The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
A member of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners was convicted Wednesday of failing to pay meals taxes for three months at his Virginia Beach restaurant.
Curtis Anderson didn't dispute that he failed to report and pay meals taxes at Ultra Lounge on May 20, June 20, and July 20 last year.
The city dropped a fourth meals tax charge because the venue wasn't open that month.
Anderson also faced a charge that he failed to appear in Virginia Beach General District Court on those charges in May.
"The reason why we're here is that he did not report, he did not pay until he was brought to court," Assistant City Attorney Dana Harmeyer said.
Anderson's attorney, Chris Falk, argued that Anderson had tried to contact the court and request a continuance that day.
General District Judge Gene A. Woolard dismissed the failure to appear charge but convicted Anderson on the three charges of failure to pay the meals tax.
He sentenced Anderson to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine on each charge of failing to pay meals tax, then suspended all of that, provided Anderson is on good behavior.
Woolard also gave attorneys 90 days to come up with a restitution plan.
"I'm being as fair as I can to both sides, but the money's got to be paid," Woolard said.
T he city and Anderson disagreed on how much he owes in back taxes.
Falk said Anderson met with city officials and that he was given a printout that he owed about $500 in total.
But Harmeyer said the commissioner of revenue's office was contacted by an agent with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control who produced alcohol receipts that showed Anderson owed more than $500 in back taxes.
Falk said he has advised Anderson to appeal to Circuit Court.
Ultra Lounge is no longer open. Anderson has said the city bought the site for the expansion of Witchduck Road.
Falk also said that Anderson is no longer involved in a project to open a new restaurant called The Palace on Plume in downtown Norfolk this year.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 222-5119, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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nrha do the right thing
Do the right thing and remove Curtis Anderson from your board. This man is getting ready to open a restaurant in downtown Norfolk, and that can lead to more questions that I think you want to answer.
This Is Exactly....
What I mean when I say 'those that seek Public Office'. They 'seek' office ONLY for the 'perks & benefits' OF said office.
I have a Neighbor that worked for the Suffolk Housing & Rede. She had gotten 3 of her adult children ALL Section 8 Housing on the SAME street of Her residence.
Its turned the 'street' into a Playground, 20 kids from 1 yr old to 14 running and screaming up & down the street, throwing rocks, kicking doors, going into backyards, dropping TRASH evwhere. And if a car pulls on street or you try and back out of your driveway? Well that means for ALL the kids to run INTO the street.
Heck he wants to argue how
Heck he wants to argue how much he owes?? The judge needs to reinstate the fines and make him pay $2,500 for each offense, to the tune of $7,500. Heck with the 90 days to come up with a plan. He is proven to be a tax cheat (someone needs to look into other tax fraud on this person), and does not show up to court when ordered to do so. He should be fired from his job, as he used it to commit the tax fraud, has shed bad light on the City.
Tax Cheat on NRHA. He'll stay too.
It's now official.
"A member of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners was convicted Wednesday of failing to pay meals taxes for three months at his Virginia Beach restaurant."
We now have a tax cheat on the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
The article didn't mention if this was a FELONY or MISDEMEANOR.
"He sentenced Anderson to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine."
Pretty hefty penalty for just a misdemeanor.
Wonder what the policy is for a convicted felon to serve on the NRHA board?
Policy?
It also reports Mr. Anderson is no longer “involved” with the Palace at Plume. Since when?
If that’s true, doesn’t that void the Special Exemptions previously adopted by Norfolk City Council on 2-9-10 & 5-11-10?
Section 2 of the ordinance states: “That the Special Exception granted hereby shall be subject to the following conditions:
(n) This Special Exception shall automatically expire upon a change in possession of the property or a change in the operation or management of the facility.”
Since Mr. Anderson submitted this application as an owner/manager, doesn’t this constitute a change in management?
Section 5 of the ordinance states: “That the City Council hereby determines that the Special Exception granted herein complies with each of the requirements of Section 25-7 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Norfolk, 1992 (as amended), namely that:
(k) No application for a special exception shall be recommended or granted until any and all delinquent real estate taxes owed to the City of Norfolk on the subject property have been paid.”
How did this application receive approval when the real estate taxes were delinquent?
Council approved
Policy (cont)
Council approved this ordinance on May 11, 2010, even though 200 E. Plume St. was delinquent, and to date, remains delinquent for real estate taxes due March 31, 2010 (prior to the ordinance) as well as June 5, 2010.
Cracking down or same ole slipping through the cracks?
Tax Cheat
Don't sound like this guy is trust worthy. Does he keep his position??
His best friend (and alleged business partner), Anthony Burfoot,
could probably give him a tutorial on paying his taxes since he has become such an expert in Norfolk all of a sudden.
now that's what I call
Now that's what I call collecting taxes. I hope Burfoot is reading this article.