Pest control contractor pleads guilty to sales tax theft

Courtesy of the Dept. of Revenue 

OLYMPIA – Oct. 15, 2013 – A Seattle man pled guilty Monday  to stealing more than $30,000 in sales tax from August 2010 to October 2011.

Calvin D. Gilpin pled guilty Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, to one charge of theft in the first degree and nine counts of operating a business with a revoked license. Gilpin was charged in May 2013 by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the state Department of Revenue (Revenue).

King County Superior Court Judge Julia Garratt accepted the plea. Gilpin is set to be sentenced on Nov. 8, 2013. He owes $30,074.68 in restitution and could be sentenced to time in prison.

Gilpin opened 4 Seasons Pest Control in the Seattle area in 1991. After failing to pay taxes, Revenue  revoked his business registration in August 2011.

Gilpin continued to take on jobs after the revocation, collecting but not turning over $30,000 in retail sales tax he charged his clients.

Entities doing business in Washington are required to be licensed and have a Unified Business Identifier number. If engaged in activities subject to the retail sales tax, the business must also collect and remit any sales taxes to Revenue.

-30-

About Revenue
In fiscal year 2013, Revenue collected $18.5 billion dollars from nearly 60 different taxes. These revenues support many of the state’s essential public services, including education, social services, health care, corrections, and natural resources conservation.

About the Attorney General's Office
The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Contacts:
Janelle Guthrie, Director of Communications
Alison Dempsey-Hall, Deputy Communications Director