Charlotte businessman pleads guilty to tax offense: DOJ

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Peter Anthony Thomas, 63, formerly of Charlotte and now a resident of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty to failing to account for and pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the trust fund taxes due and owing on behalf of the employees of PT Media, LLC, according to the Department of Justice.

According to plea documents and court proceedings, Thomas owned several LLCs including Club One CLT, Sports One, Inc., Sports One CLT and PT Media, (collectively “the Charlotte businesses”) which operated as sports-themed bars/restaurants/lounges in Charlotte.

Thomas also owned several other businesses out of Florida and Maryland, including Bar One Miami Beach, LLC and Bar One Baltimore, LLC. Thomas exercised control over the Charlotte business’ financial and business affairs. He was responsible for collecting trust fund taxes, accounting for employment taxes with the IRS and paying the IRS the employment taxes for the Charlotte businesses’ employees.

Between 2017 and 2022, Thomas caused the Charlotte businesses to collect more than $640k in trust fund taxes from the wages of the employees, but Thomas did not pay these taxes to the IRS.

In addition, between 2021 and 2023, Thomas caused his Miami and Baltimore businesses to collect more than $1.1M in trust fund taxes.

In total, between 2017 and 2023, Thomas failed to pay more than $2.5M in employment taxes, including more than $1.74M in trust fund taxes from the wages of their employees.

Court documents show that instead of paying the taxes that were due on behalf of the Charlotte businesses Thomas used the taxes for other purposes including cash withdrawals, travel, real estate purchases and retail purchases. Thomas transferred more than $2.9M between the Charlotte businesses, Bar One Miami Beach and Bar One Baltimore.

Thomas was released on bond following his plea hearing. The tax charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

A sentencing date has not been set.

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