Department of Revenue News Release

After an investigation by the Missouri Department of Revenue's Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Shannon County Prosecuting Attorney has filed felony tax evasion charges against the owner of a company that owns farmland informally known as Camp Zoe.

James T. Tebeau, of rural Salem, is charged with six felony counts of failure to file sales tax returns and pay sales tax owed to the state of Missouri.  The failure to file returns and pay sales tax is related to business conducted at a 350-acre farm near Eminence in Shannon County.  Tebeau runs Zoe Campitheater, which has been the host of several festivals, campers, and float trips.  The alleged tax evasions involve the failure to pay sales tax for July, September and October of 2010.

"Failing to pay sales tax is a serious crime," said Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue.  "It's especially unfair to the businesses that faithfully remit the sales taxes they collect from their customers."

As in all criminal cases, the charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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