Liquor Store Owners Accused Of Racketeering
DENVER (CBS4/AP) -- The owners of a large Thornton liquor store have been charged with racketeering, theft and tax violations, according to a 52-count indictment filed in Denver District Court.
"This is probably the largest one we've seen in quite some time," said Deputy District Attorney Kandace Gerdes.
According to the Denver District Attorney's Office, Hani Sawaged, Ghassan Sawaged and Bassam Sawaged were all named in various charges in the indictment filed Wednesday. The investigation claims they doctored the books and stole from the company. Investigators found about ten different types of liquor was being returned for cash right before or after business hours in large quantities.
The three men are owners of Daveco Liquors bear Interstate 25 and E-470 in Thornton.
"Which then allowed for a refund and cash to be taken out for a refund from all those sales," said Gerdes.
The product supposedly returned, did not exist.
"The purchaser's record was identified as well as the actual store inventory and these were non-existent products," said Gerdes.
The refunds totaled more than $5.4 million in cash. According to investigators, more than $2 million of it was used for cash payments to the liquor distributor. Some was deposited in Daveco bank accounts.
"It then reduced the amount of sales reportable for sales tax purposes," said Gerdes.
According to spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough, the men underpaid at least $450,000 in sales taxes to Thornton and the Colorado Department of Revenue.
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