More than $440K in sales tax embezzled over years at popular NoDa beer shop: NCDOR

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A well-known beer shop in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood is at the center of an embezzlement case after its managing member was arrested on felony tax charges, according to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Jason Scott Glunt, 43, of Charlotte, was arrested in Raleigh on Thursday, July 10. He faces nine felony counts of embezzlement of state property, according to indictments filed by NCDOR.

“It’s just not the right way to do business. Eventually, it catches up with you,” said customer Simeon Caldwell.

Glunt, who runs Salud Beer Shop and Salud Cerveceria through Salud, LLC, is accused of embezzling more than $440,000 in state and Mecklenburg County sales taxes over several years.

Missing sales tax funds

The state alleges that between July 2015 and December 2019, and again from January 2021 through the end of 2024, Glunt failed to remit collected sales taxes as required by law.

In total, officials say $442,914.04 was misused.

As the person responsible for handling the business’s taxes, officials said Glunt had a legal obligation to collect sales tax from customers and pass it on to the state. Instead, investigators said he aided and abetted Salud, LLC in misapplying and converting those funds for other uses.

Arrested in Raleigh

Bond was set at $150,000, and Glunt is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday, July 14 in Wake County Superior Court.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the NCDOR’s Criminal Investigation Division, which looks into suspected financial crimes across the state.

Salud Beer Shop has long been a fixture in the NoDa community, and customers say it fits right into the community.

“It’s a very NoDa kinda shop, it’s the only place you can go around here that’s a craft bottle shop,” said John Dunham, another customer.

Dunham and Caldwell go to the beer shop a couple of times a week.

“I never would have expected to hear something that crazy,” said Caldwell.

Investigators say Glunt kept the money he collected in sales taxes from customers and didn’t turn it over to the state.

“A lot of people try to duck and dodge and skate around, but justice always comes around, I guess,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell just hopes the staff at Salud won’t suffer.

“Hopefully, they end up in good hands and everything is taken care of, and they can continue working. I pray for them, I hope they’ll be alright,” said Caldwell.

Source: Fox 8 News Channel