Thomas Sentenced to 18 Months for CLT Restaurant Tax Fraud
Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Restaurateur Peter Thomas, best known for his ownership of CLUB ONE in Charlotte and as the ex-husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey, was sentenced Thursday to up to 18 months in prison for failing to pay $640,000 in trust fund taxes. According to WCNC, the taxes, which were withheld from employees’ wages, were due to the IRS for the second quarter of 2021.
Thomas, who pleaded guilty in July, diverted the funds intended for tax payments to personal expenses, including over $2.5 million in cash withdrawals, $370,000 in travel and real estate, and lavish shopping sprees at high-end retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. Court documents also revealed that Thomas transferred more than $2.9 million between several of his businesses, including Bar One locations in Miami and Baltimore, to cover the shortfall.
