Maryland Goes After Owners of Indebted C-store Chain
CUMBERLAND, Md. -- Owners of a corporation that operates several convenience stores in Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland owe the state almost $4 million in unpaid motor fuel taxes as well as penalties and interest, and the state is hitting those owners up personally, according to a report in theCumberland (Md.) Times-News.
The state sent notice in a Nov. 10 letter that it is seeking return of the money personally from Harry and Nancy Tunstall, owners of Three Tees Inc., the report stated.
"We canceled their license and registration on Dec. 16 and liens were placed against them on Nov. 19 in the hope that they would start paying," said Mike Golden, a spokesman for the Comptroller of Maryland. The liens seek to collect money from the Tunstalls' salaries, properties or both.
"We shut (the sale of gasoline) down ? at eight locations in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties," said Golden in the report.
The Maryland State Lottery Agency also terminated lottery sales Friday after conversations with the owners and management, and becoming aware of the liens placed by the comptroller, said spokesman Jimmy White, according to Cumberland (Md.) Times-News.
Golden said he understood that the Maryland stations are now being operated by Larry Tunstall, brother of Harry Tunstall, reportedly under the name of Somerset Oil Co. He also said it was his understanding that Three Tees has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Also, according to Golden, the tax money owed by Three Tees to the state dates back to January 2002 and includes a "small amount of sales tax." According to a Notice of Lien of Judgment for Unpaid Tax issued by the comptroller, the company owes $3,355,803 in unpaid taxes, $256,648 in penalties and $362,276 in interest, the Cumberland Times-News reported.
The state sent notice in a Nov. 10 letter that it is seeking return of the money personally from Harry and Nancy Tunstall, owners of Three Tees Inc., the report stated.
"We canceled their license and registration on Dec. 16 and liens were placed against them on Nov. 19 in the hope that they would start paying," said Mike Golden, a spokesman for the Comptroller of Maryland. The liens seek to collect money from the Tunstalls' salaries, properties or both.
"We shut (the sale of gasoline) down ? at eight locations in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties," said Golden in the report.
The Maryland State Lottery Agency also terminated lottery sales Friday after conversations with the owners and management, and becoming aware of the liens placed by the comptroller, said spokesman Jimmy White, according to Cumberland (Md.) Times-News.
Golden said he understood that the Maryland stations are now being operated by Larry Tunstall, brother of Harry Tunstall, reportedly under the name of Somerset Oil Co. He also said it was his understanding that Three Tees has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Also, according to Golden, the tax money owed by Three Tees to the state dates back to January 2002 and includes a "small amount of sales tax." According to a Notice of Lien of Judgment for Unpaid Tax issued by the comptroller, the company owes $3,355,803 in unpaid taxes, $256,648 in penalties and $362,276 in interest, the Cumberland Times-News reported.