TOLEDO, OH -- The owner of clubs in Toledo, OH, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to failing to pay state sales tax for his businesses.
Donald Stump, the owner of Lifestyles for Ladies Only health clubs, is faced with one count each of aggravated theft and failure to remit sales tax for allegedly not paying more than $628,000 in sales tax for his two clubs, according to the Toledo Blade. If convicted, Stump faces up to 9 1/2 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, the newspaper reported.
Stump was handcuffed at Tuesday’s arraignment and taken to a local jail before being released on his own recognizance. His trial date is June 29.
The Ohio Department of Taxation determined after an investigation that Stump paid less than $75,000 of the nearly $700,000 owed in sales tax for the clubs over the past 4 1/2 years, the newspaper reported. Stump has involvement with other clubs in Michigan, but the allegations are for only the two Toledo clubs, according to the newspaper.