Monroe, Georgia -Michael (Mike) John Cash, Sr. was convicted by a Walton County jury Friday, August 18, 2017, on charges of racketeering and felony theft by conversion.

In 2015, agents with the DOR's Office of Special Investigations (OSI) raided Mike and Deborah Cash's downtown Monroe business, Mike Cash Office Supplies for failing to remit sales tax the business had collected, but issues with both Mr. and Mrs. Cash go back much further. In 2005 they filed for bankruptcy and were ordered to liquidate their business and pay the DOR over $900,000 in sales tax. The Department's investigation determined over the past 20 years Mr. and Mrs. Cash converted over $3 million in sales taxes to personal funds.

"The theft of sales tax is something the Department takes very seriously," said OSI Director, Josh Waites, "Not only is money being stolen from the State, it is also coming out of the pocket of local governments and ultimately placing an unfair burden on other businesses and taxpayers in the Monroe area and throughout Georgia. The State tried to work with the family to help them return to compliance but they continued to steal sales tax and we were forced to pursue criminal charges."
Sales tax theft cases are rare because the DOR constantly works with businesses to help them remain in compliance with the State's tax laws. The vast majority of times businesses fall out of compliance they are able to work with the Department to return to a state of compliance and remain open. The Department sees closing businesses as a last resort.  

The Department found Walton County District Attorney Layla Zon and her office to be exceptional partners in developing and prosecuting this case. Chief Assistant District Attorney Randy McGinley did an incredible job with the prosecution.

After a 5-day trial, the jury found Mike Cash guilty on all 21 counts, 2 counts of racketeering and 19 counts of felony theft by conversion.
Sentencing for Mike Cash is scheduled for mid-September.

Deborah Cash chose to plead guilty to theft and racketeering charges in 2016 and was sentenced to 15 years to serve 4 in State Prison. 

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