NEWS RELEASE

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Public Affairs Office

Contact: Danny Brazell

Phone: (803) 898-5464

E-mail: brazeld@sctax.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 8, 2006

MYRTLE BEACH WOMAN CHARGED WITH SALES TAX EVASION

South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators arrested the former bookkeeper for a Myrtle Beach computer equipment business today on charges of sales tax evasion.

Donna Watkins Poplin, 43, who was responsible for filing sales tax returns for Amanakrist, Inc., is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway pending a bond hearing. Poplin was charged with four counts of sales tax evasion from 2001 - 2004.

Poplin, who was also an officer for the firm, is accused of failing to report business sales of $1.6 million during that period and failing to pay the sales tax liability of more than $84,000. She is facing up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $40,000 if convicted of all the charges.

The Horry County Sheriff's Department assisted the revenue department in Poplin's arrest.

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