Fresh off his first meeting, recently elected Shelby County Commissioner Will Richardson was arrested on felony tax fraud charges on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The commissioner was booked in the Shelby County Jail a few hours after the completion of the day’s committee meetings. Bail was set at $40,000. He was released later in the evening.
According to the indictment, Richardson has been charged with one count of tax fraud for allegedly falsifying tax records related to his Harbor Town business, Fat Charlie’s Speakeasy.
The businessman and ordained minister faces another charge for allegedly failing to report revenue collected between December 2020 and September 2024 at the establishment. Fat Charlie’s opened in 2020.
Richardson addressed the charges in a statement released on Friday, Sept. 11.
“I take these allegations seriously, and I understand the concern they raise. But I want to be clear: I am innocent of these charges. I will fully participate in the legal process,” said Richardson. “I will not be commenting further on the specifics of the case while it is pending, on the advice of counsel.”
The commissioner also said the voters of District-8 will continue to support him “when all the facts come out … .”
“In the meantime, I ask for the public’s patience and I remain focused on the job I was elected to do,” added Richardson.
Along with being a bar owner, Richardson is the CEO and founder of a home health care LLC. He also serves as the vice chair of the Shelby County Democratic Party. That term is expected to end next year.
Richardson succeeds newly elected Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery on the commission. He received 81% of the District 8 vote during the Aug. 6 county election.
Class E felony charges typically carry penalties of between one and six years in prison per charge. A maximum fine of $3,000 per charge is also possible. This is Richardson’s first arrest.
Commission rules would require Richardson to step down if he is found guilty. The last time that occurred was the previous term. Former commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr. resigned his District 9 seat on Feb. 2, after pleading guilty to five counts of federal tax evasion.
Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 9:30 p.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison.
