Hardin County Deputy Clerk Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Perjury

SAVANNAH, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Hardin County Deputy Clerk Kimberly Wilkerson pleading guilty to tax evasion and perjury.

Judge J. Brent Bradberry accepted Wilkerson's guilty plea, which stemmed from charges that Wilkerson fraudulently registered her personal vehicle to evade use tax. Wilkerson was sentenced to two years of probation, ordered to pay restitution and fines, and resign from the Hardin County Clerk's Office.

"The Department of Revenue strives to promote voluntary compliance of Tennessee's tax laws by educating taxpayers and aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions for accountability of fraudulent actors," Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. "This guilty plea underscores the department's efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."

The department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Jody Pickens' Office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws, as well as the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The department collects around 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2023 fiscal year, it collected nearly $22 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $4.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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