Owners of Paradise Pizza Charged with Tax Crimes

The owners of a defunct pizza parlor in Savage could face prison time and fines for failing to give the State of Minnesota its due.

On Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced that charges had been filed against the owners of Paradise Pizza—Timothy Falkenberg, 46, and 42-year-old Rochelle Falkenberg. The two face three tax felonies each: One count of failing to pay sales and use tax, one count of failing to file sales and use tax returns, and one charge of making sales after revocation their sales tax permit.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The Scott County Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against the pair in January. According to the complaint, the two filed several sales tax returns shortly after opening Paradise Pizza and Grill in 2007. All stated that they had not collected any sales tax. Though the business continued to operate until 2011, the pair never filed another sales tax return.

According to the Department of Revenue, the owners owe the state over $106,000 in past sales taxes, penalties and interest.