A Davidson County Grand Jury indicted 61-year-old Paul Earthman Cox III for three counts of tax fraud, three counts of tax evasion, and one count of theft on July 24th, 2024. The indictment alleges that Cox III, between January 1st, 2021, and December 31st, 2023, before the finding of his indictment, did knowingly obstruct, hinder, or impede the State of Tennessee from collecting a portion of its lawful sales tax revenue by falsification of any record, report, or return required by law through monthly sales tax returns of PCS Southeast Automotive LLC with the intent to defraud the State of Tennessee. Also, it is alleged that Cox III, between January 1st, 2021, and December 31st, 2023, knowingly attempted in any manner to evade or defeat any tax due the State of Tennessee through sales tax and did obtain or exercise control over $250,000 or more of the Tennessee Department of Revenue’s money without their effective consent, with intent to deprive them. Cox III was taken into custody on July 29th, 2024. A judicial commissioner set Cox III’s bond at $275,000.