Former Rockford Restaurant Owner and Bookkeeper Accused of Cheating State Out of More than $100K in Sales Taxes

Former Rockford restaurant owner and bookkeeper accused of cheating state out of more than $100K in sales taxes

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Felony charges have been filed against the former owner of a Rockford restaurant and its bookkeeper after they allegedly defrauded the state out of more than $100,000 in sales taxes over a four-year period. James Vitale, a 74-year-old Belvidere resident, and Lori Rice, a 52-year-old Rockford resident, have each been charged with four counts of theft of governmental property over $100,000, one count of sales tax evasion, one coun…

Former owner of Stone Eagle restaurant charged with tax evasion, forgery, fraud

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Former Stone Eagle Tavern and Cliffbreakers owner Jimmy Vitale, 74, faces charges of tax evasion, forgery, and fraud. On Monday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the charges against Vitale and restaurant bookkeeper Lori Rice, 52, each with four counts of theft of government property over $100,000, one count of sales tax evasion, one count of filing a fraudulent sales tax return, and two counts of forgery. Ac…