ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – The South Carolina Department of Revenue reports the operator of a chain of Upstate convenience and liquor stores pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

Officials report 45-year-old Yagneshkumar Pravin Patel was the operator of Yadhi Groups, LLC and Yadhi Spirits, LLC, which has stores in Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, and Spartanburg counties.

Arrest warrants said Patel reported taxable sales of more than $770,000 between 2016 and July 2021. However, after an investigation, his actual taxable sales were determined to be more than $4.2 million, meaning he evaded at least $229,000 in Sales Tax.

Patel was charged with six counts of tax evasion in Sep. 2024.

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Patel pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion on June 10 but admitted his guilt in each of the six tax years for which he was originally charged, officials said.

A judge sentenced Patel to five years in prison, suspended to five years of probation. He is also required to pay $231,408 in restitution for the Sales Tax he owed.

Officials report the probation can be terminated early if he repays the entire amount of restitution ordered.

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