On Monday, a New Hanover County restaurant owner entered a guilty plea to state tax embezzlement charges in Wake County Superior Court. Marteke Latwuan Franks, the 49-year-old owner of Fuwangz, LLC, admitted to his role in the misuse of nearly $80,000 in sales taxes collected by his business, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
According to the same source, Franks faced five counts of Embezzlement of State Property, an accusation that placed him under scrutiny following an investigation by the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division in Raleigh. Despite Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway handing down suspended prison sentences, the terms will be up to 32 months and are to run concurrently, granted that Franks adheres to his probation conditions.
These conditions include serving 15 days in the sheriff's office custody, completing 75 hours of community service, and repaying the misappropriated funds, totalling $79,894.22. Under the shadow of the courthouse, the gravity of financial stewardship was brought to light — Franks had failed to fulfill his duty to collect, hold in trust, and remit the North Carolina Sales Tax to the state's revenue department from May 2016 through September 2020.
The severity of the situation was underscored by Franks' responsibility as the sole member of his LLC. Having the duty plainly laid upon, his shoulders to remit taxes, Judge Ridgeway's ruling came as a consequence of Franks' actions, or lack thereof, designed to discourage similar actions by others in positions of fiscal responsibility. Signifying a kind of trust broken between the public and private, this case serves as a reminder of the weight that comes with handling public monies, a sentiment echoed in the courtroom.
The prosecution was carried out by Special Prosecutions attorneys in the office of the Attorney General, highlighting the state's commitment to upholding tax laws and ensuring compliance.
