A gaming store owner in Spring Lake, North Carolina, has admitted to embezzling over $190,000 in state sales taxes. Garrett T. Steedly, 45, pleaded guilty to six counts of Embezzlement of State Property yesterday, according to the North Carolina Department of Revenue release. A Wake County Superior Court judge sentenced him to a suspended prison sentence and 24 months of supervised probation.
Steedly, who owned Gamers Guild, was initially facing 16 to 29 months in prison but will avoid jail if he complies with his probation terms. He paid restitution of $191,388.73 before taking the plea deal. The investigation, conducted by special agents from the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, found that Steedly unlawfully kept state sales tax revenue from 2011 to 2021.
In addition to probation, Steedly will serve 30 days of house arrest and 100 hours of community service. The case was prosecuted by special attorneys from the Office of the Attorney General.
