S.C. Insurance Salesman Arrested on Tax Charges

COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 12 -- The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued the following news release:

A Greenville insurance salesman for Southeastern Group was jailed today following his arrest for state tax charges.

South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) investigators charged Gregory H. Elie with three counts of failing to file an income tax return for tax years 2005, 2008 and 2009 and two counts of income tax evasion for tax years 2006 and 2007. He is being held at the Greenville County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

The SCDOR investigation showed Elie, 51, earned income of $2,305,912 from 2006 through 2009. Elie is accused of failing to timely file state income tax returns for those years. During the investigation, Elie hired a tax preparer to prepare the delinquent returns. For tax years 2006 and 2007, he is accused of concealing personal bank records from his tax preparer, causing income to be unreported. Elie's state income tax liability for 2006 and 2007 is $64,466.

Elie is facing up to 13 years in prison and/or fines of up to $50,000 if convicted of the charges.

TNS PA-PA 120114-3742701 61PoojaAnand