White Bear Lake man, business charged with multiple tax crimes

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced that the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office recently charged Daron Edwin Close, of White Bear Lake, and DC Restaurants LLC, located in Maple Grove, with six felony counts each. Mr. Close is charged with six felony counts of filing fraudulent sales tax returns. His business, DC Restaurants LLC, is charged with six felony counts of failing to pay sales tax.  

During the years under investigation, Mr. Close was the owner of DC Restaurants LLC which operates Acqua Restaurant and Wine Bar in White Bear Lake, MN.  According to the complaint, department investigators compared the sales tax he remitted monthly to the state to his business records. These records were obtained during the execution of a search warrant and substantiated that Mr. Close underreported the amount of sales tax he collected at the restaurant by more than $13,000.  Mr. Close allegedly admitted that the point of sale system used at Acqua accurately tracked sales tax collected and said he did not know why he underreported the amount of tax collected.

Each tax-related felony charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Many of the department’s criminal case referrals come from public tips. The Minnesota Department of Revenue has a 24-hour tip line for anyone who suspects that a person or business is violating Minnesota tax laws. Local callers may dial 651-297-5195 or call toll-free by dialing 1-800-657-3500. Tips can also be submitted to the department by email at tax.fraud@state.mn.us. Tipsters may choose to remain anonymous. 

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