Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Felony fraud, tax charges filed against JB's Piano Bar owner

A Missouri Department of Revenue investigation into tax and bank records of Joplin businessman Jon Buck has resulted in the filing of charges of filing false sales tax returns and failure to pay sales tax due.

Twenty felony counts were committed with the intent of defrauding the state of Missouri, according to the probable cause statement.

A 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, arraignment is scheduled for Buck, 35, before Judge John Nicholas in Jasper County Circuit Court Division 4 in Carthage.

The probable cause statement, written by is printed below:

INVESTIGATIVE FACTS 

1. I am currently assigned to an investigation of Jon Thomas Buck (hereinafter referred to as Buck) and JB's Piano Bar LLC (hereinafter referred to as JBS Piano Bar).

 2. Buck of JB's Piano Bar, filed Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office on September 6, 2010, and received Charter Number #LC1083302. 

According to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office, the company is still active as of the time this probable cause statement was written. 

3. The Missouri Department of Revenue Integrated Tax System (MITS) files shows that on or about October 16, 2010, Buck, member/owner of JB's Piano Bar, applied for a sales tax license and was assigned Missouri Tax Identification Number 20933789 (sales tax license).

4. JBsPiano Bar is a retail establishment which serves food and alcohol and offers various forms, of entertainment. The Missouri Department of Revenue Individual Income Tax System (MINITS) files show that Buck filed federal and state of Missouri income tax returns, for tax years 2014 and 2015. 

For the tax year 2014, Buck completed a federal 1040 Schedule C form for JB’s Piano Bar. According to Buck's federal income tax return, Buck reported that JB's Piano Bar had two hundred eighty seven thousand three hundred thirty seven dollars ($287,337.00) in gross sales. For the tax year 2015, Buck completed a federal 1040 Schedule C form for JB's Piano Bar. 

According to Buck's federal income tax return, Buck reported that JB's Piano Bar had four hundred twenty two thousand eight hundred forty seven dollars ($422,847.00) in gross sales. In reviewing sales tax returns filed quarterly for JB's Piano Bar between the quarterly periods ending December 31, 2013 through March 31, 2016, I discovered discrepancies when comparing them to federal income tax returns filed by Buck. 

In June 2016, I issued subpoenas to Mid-Missouri Bank-and Southwest Missouri bank requesting financial documents pertaining to Buck and his associated businesses including, JB's Piano Bar. 

During my analysis, I located a small-business checking account (Acct #4004) held at Mid-Missouri bank for JB's Piano Bar. Buck was listed as an authorized signer on the account. This account was opened in September 2013. When reviewing the monthly statements, I observed numerous deposits from Heartland Payment Systems, a credit card processing company. 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending December 31, 2013, I discovered forty four thousand seven hundred sixty four dollars and Sixty-nine cents ($44,764.69) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported twenty thousand four hundred fifty seven dollars and twenty-two cents ($20,457.22) in taxable sales, a difference of twenty four thousand three hundred seven dollars and forty-seven cents ($24,307.47). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending March 31, 2014, I discovered fifty five thousand five hundred forty four dollars and eighty-three cents I ($55,544.83) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported sixteen thousand eight hundred thirty three dollars and ninety-four cents ($16,833.94) in taxable sales, a difference of thirty eight thousand seven hundred ten dollars and eighty-nine cents ($38,710.89).

For the quarterly sales tax period ending June 30, 2014, I discovered forty one thousand five hundred ten dollars and eighty-eight cents ($41,510.88) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported sixteen thousand five hundred twenty two dollars and twenty one cents ($16,522.21). in taxable sales, a difference of twenty four thousand nine hundred eighty eight dollars and sixty-seven cents ($24,988.67). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending September 30, 2014, I discovered thirty one thousand seven hundred fifty one dollars and forty-seven cents ($31,751.47) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported twelve thousand eight hundred seventy four dollars and fifty-three cents ($12,874.53) in taxable sales, a difference of eighteen thousand eight hundred seventy six dollars and ninety-four cents ($18,876.94). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending December 31, 2014, I discovered thirty three thousand three hundred eighty three dollars and fifty-two cents ($33,383.52) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported twenty thousand one hundred eighty six dollars and fifty-two cents ($20,186.52) in taxable sales, a difference of thirteen thousand one hundred ninety seven dollars ($13,197.00). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending March 31, 2015, I discovered sixty one thousand three hundred dollars and fifty-six cents ($61,300.56) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported twenty one thousand seven hundred eighty five dollars ($21,785.00) in taxable sales, a difference of thirty nine thousand five hundred fifteen dollars and fifty-six cents ($39,515.56). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending June 30, 2015, I discovered one hundred sixteen thousand three hundred ninety five dollars ($116,395.00) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported twenty four thousand one hundred ninety two dollars and thirty nine cents ($24,192.39) in taxable sales, a difference of ninety two thousand two hundred two dollars and Sixty-one cents ($92,202.61). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending September 30, 2015, I discovered one hundred seven thousand one hundred fifty five dollars ($107,155.00) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported fifteen thousand seven hundred sixty two dollars and thirty-three cents ($15,762.33) in taxable sales, a difference of ninety one thousand three hundred ninety two dollars and sixty-seven cents ($91,392.67).

For the quarterly sales tax period ending December 31, 2015, l discovered seventy six thousand one hundred ninety one dollars and forty-seven cents ($76,191.47) in taxable sales. According to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported eighteen thousand eight hundred seventy five and fifty-three cents ($18,875.53) in taxable sales, a difference of fifty seven thousand three hundred fifteen dollars and ninety-four cents ($57,315.94). 

For the quarterly sales tax period ending March 31, 2016, I discovered seventy eight thousand one hundred forty nine dollars and ninety-five cents ($78,149.95) in taxable sales. According-to the quarterly sales tax return filed by Buck, he reported nineteen thousand four hundred fifty six dollars ($19,456.00) in taxable sales, a difference of fifty eight thousand six hundred ninety three dollars and ninety-five cents ($58,693.95). 

On July 12, 2016, I attempted to contact Buck had JB's Piano Bar, but the business was closed. I left a message with an employee of another business Buck owned and requested that Buck contact me. A short time later, l received a phone call from Buck. I briefly explained to Buck that there are inconsistencies in his income tax returns and sales tax returns filed for JB’S Piano Bar. l asked Buck what credit card processing company he used for JBsPiano Bar and he stated Heartland Payment Systems. 

Buck stated he would review his business records and contact me back. On July 14, 2016, I received another call from Buck. During this phone interview, we discussed the inconsistencies with the taxable sales reported on his quarterly sales tax returns and the gross sales reported on his income tax returns. I asked Buck if he had lowered the amount of taxable sales on his sales tax returns in order to pay less sales tax. Buck stated, "I have done that once or twice. I’m going to be real honest; I'm not going to lie to you."

Buck has willfully, with intent, defrauded the state of Missouri, by falsifying ten (10) quarterly sales tax returns for the quarterly periods ending December 31, 2013 through March 31, 2016 and failed. to pay sales tax owed to the state of Missouri for ten (10) quarterly sales tax periods ending ’ December 31, 2013 through March 31, 2016.

The probable cause statement ends with an assessment of how much money Buck allegedly failed to pay the state in sales tax:

As a result of the criminal acts that Buck committed, the state of Missouri has incurred a loss in the amount of seventy eight thousand five hundred ninety five dollars and twenty-eight cents ($78, 595.28). This total includes a calculation of sales tax due based off previous sales tax returns filed, analysis of bank records, interest, penalties for failure to file/pay quarterly sales tax and fraud penalties for quarterly sales tax periods ending December 31, 2013 through March 31, 2016.

31 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:00 PM

    lest ye be judged

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  2. Anonymous8:22 PM

    @ 8:00 Even though the conviction rate for these type of crimes are roughly 90%! Mainly because the evidence is black and white, also plain as day. Following money is a lot easier than investigating a murder.

    Another corrupt Joplin businessman who just had to stick his little degenerate fingers into the workings of R-8. Most criminals lay low and keep their mouths shut, this one just HAD to constantly be in the spotlight. Don't forget the shady practices relating to his music fraudstivals and charitable donations.

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    2. Jessica4:13 PM

      Thank you. You're exactly right. It's amazing how many people will back the corrupt government when in mob form.

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  3. Don't consider the shear amount of tax revenue his business brings in or the fact that he actually creates local jobs.... just bury your head in the sand of local politics.

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  4. Oh sweet ass buck smh smh he forgot wher he came from that's a greater crime , where I come from ,,,BTK

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  5. Anonymous9:05 PM

    So since he brings in "thousands" of revenue for Joplin he doesn't have to pay taxes!? Get outta here with that garbage

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  6. Anonymous9:36 PM

    @ Cody
    "What about....? But he creates..? Ever think...?"
    Nice equations, deflections and distractions. That's nice. But what about all the money he STOLE from the state of Missouri?! Jasper/Newton county? Joplin? What tax revenue? HE DIDN'T PAY IT!! This is just the State. Wait until the Feds get involved.

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    1. Are you saying that Jon and his endeavors haven't created any revenue? What if he had just decided Joplin wasn't worth investing in and started his businesses in another town? Would that be stealing from them?

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    2. Anonymous2:32 PM

      Yes. When you don't pay your taxes you are effectively stealing from your community. That's why it's a crime.

      Jon and his "endeavors" have created problems for years. He's left a wake of unpaid bills, unkept promises, and now a black cloud over our city.

      He didn't invest in Joplin. He stole from Joplin.

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  7. Anonymous9:45 PM

    @8:22 What does he have to do with R-8? I thought he was just interested in revitalizing the downtown.

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  8. Anonymous9:47 PM

    Do you know what local tax revenue funds??? Schools, roads, infrastructure. He stole from children. He doesn't have any though, so why would he care??

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  9. Anonymous10:50 PM

    I have heard conflicting stories on this this evening but none the less if it is true there's absolutely no excuse

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  10. Anonymous10:53 PM

    9:45 Lawsuit, Buck was one individual on a suit to force the appointment of J. Kimbrough and keep the county commissioners from appointing 3 empty seats on the BOE Summer 2015.

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  11. Anonymous10:56 PM

    Thank you , Randy! I know this story has been provided to the local tv news and the Globe, but they wouldn't take the time to investigate. Thank you being the one true source of unbaised reporting in corner of this giant world!

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  12. Anonymous5:08 AM

    Anyone that knew Buck for any length of time knew he was shady. Nice guy for sure but that doesn't make it right screwing over the state for tax evasion. Smh

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  13. And yet the President doesn't release his taxes.

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    1. Anonymous9:57 AM

      Neither did Buck. Just because WE can't see Trumps returns doesn't mean they aren't legal. Buck broke the law deliberately. Shallow and lame diversion at best.
      Lemme guess, you're a vegan and atheist? Lol.

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  14. Anonymous8:12 AM

    John that what happen when your cocky. Don't have to much fun in jail with bubba.

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  15. Anonymous8:17 AM

    The President doesn't need to release his taxes!

    There is no proof the President did anything wrong.

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  16. Anonymous8:41 AM

    prosecute him to the fullest

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  17. Anonymous8:49 AM

    with all of this going on , how is he still able to show 40% sales of food , to allow minors into his bar until 10pm?

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  18. Anonymous9:15 AM

    I'm with 9:36, If it prooves to be true he's probably going to jail for tax evasion, it's sad because I like the guy but you can't mess with the State or Federal Government on Taxes because eventually you'll get caught....and they will punish you..

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  19. Anonymous11:05 AM

    6:42AM The difference is Buck didn't follow the law. There is no law that says the president must release his taxes. If you think it is that important call your congressman and ask them to put it into law.

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  20. Anonymous3:58 PM

    He still paid more taxes than our president. Tax cuts and loop holes for the big corporate welfare pigs. Hypocritical at best.

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  21. Exactly. He's a hardworking business owner who brought in tax revenues for the city of joplin and the state of mo... oh wait a minute!

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  22. Good point 11:05 AM

    Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text 24/7

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  23. Don't forget NBC burrgalized Trump Tower, stole his 2005 1040, broadcast it on network and cable television- unfortunately for them he paid $35 million that year in US income tax

    Their supposed expose' actually made him look good,
    Remember lying, crooked Hillary's claim that he wasn't a real billionaire-- sure was that year with an income of $150 MM in USD

    Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text 24/7

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  24. Anonymous10:37 AM

    He can be a nice person and break the law, just as Downtown Joplin Alliance can do useful things and be personally obnoxious.

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  25. Jeff W.5:39 PM

    Im assuming that the majority of the people replying on here and making some pretty crappy statements are people that either !. have never met or heard about Jon until now 2. heard about Jon from someone else or in some other passing conversation, or 3. met him once or went to his bar or one of the events he put on. Its obvious that Cody is the only one that probably really knows him. Not condoning what happened, but I do know Jon. I know what this town means to him. The excitement and enthusiasm he felt about all the events he put on and what it would mean monetarily for Joplin and what it would do help attract other forms of entertainment to the tow. I also know what he did to help people after the tornado and after the apartment fire, what he did personally and what he did to raise money and donations of food and clothing for both disasters.

    You can make your comments about the tax issues, but really, keep your mouth shut and keep your crap attitudes about the man who most of you don't know to yourselves.

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  26. Anonymous1:14 PM

    Charges dropped, thanks for your diligent reporting

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