West Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The owner of a popular restaurant in the Midlands is being accused of not paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes to the state.
Jeremy Chavis, the owner of Jackson's Southern Kitchen in West Columbia, is charged with four counts of tax evasion. He was arrested Friday.
According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the allegations involved sales tax returns from May of 2014 to December of 2017. The agency says he underreported the business' gross sales on sales tax returns filed with them.
"By failing to report at least $2.7 million in sales, the defendant evaded paying $213,000 in sales tax due to the State of South Carolina," SCDOR says.
Jackson's is well known in the community for it's family food. People in the area says it's not uncommon to see long lines at the restaurant. Dozens said they were shocked to see the sign on the door today that they were closed.
"I thought it was a thing, you know, before they've been closed it was for vacation or they had giving out of food or something because they have such a large cliental that comes here," customer Connie Hightower said.
It previously had a location at the Richland Mall in Forest Acres, but move to its current locations a few years ago.
The restaurant was closed as of midday Friday. The sign on the restaurant's door said, "Jackson's will be closed today due to unforeseen circumstances. We will reopen ASAP. Thank you."
"Get it right so you all can open back again," Hightower said. "I don't know what kind of people you are, but if you invading taxes something's not right."
Chavis was booked at the Lexington County Detention Center. If convicted, he faces fines up to $10,000 and/or up to five years in prison per charge.
Chavis had a bond hearing this afternoon. His bond was set at $10,000. He did post bond, but has not been released yet.