Steven Gibbs charged with not paying $44K in sales tax revenue

WILMINGTON — The owner of Fermental Inc. was arrested Monday on felony tax charges filed by the N.C. Department of Revenue.

Steven Ronald Gibbs, 44, of Darden Road, was charged with four counts of embezzlement of state property and four counts of embezzlement of New Hanover County property.

Gibbs told the StarNews Tuesday he was working on getting to the bottom of what actually happened.

Warrants claim Gibbs aided and abetted the business to embezzle, misapply and convert to its own use $44,059.20 in state and county sales taxes from Sept. 1, 2014 through Sept. 20, 2017, according to a news release.

During that time period, Gibbs was responsible for collecting, holding and remitting state and county sales taxes to the N.C. Department of Revenue.

Fermental opened in 2013 at 7250 Market St. in Ogden. The bottle shop is located in a 1940s bungalow and offers an eclectic selection of craft beer, fine wine and features an outdoor beer garden and tasting bar. There are weekly events, live entertainment, food trucks and other happenings at the popular shop. Fermental also offers plates of imported meats and cheeses, pickles, olives and wine ice cream.

Gibbs appeared before a Wake County magistrate Monday and his bail was set at $50,000. His first appearance is scheduled for Tuesday in Raleigh.

The charges against Gibbs resulted from an investigation by special agents with the Department’s Criminal Investigations Section in Raleigh.

The StarNews reached out to Fermental for comment Tuesday.

Gibbs said the situation has been ongoing for several years and he was working to learn more about the charges levied against him.

"We are working on getting to the bottom of what actually happened here, and if we owe any additional sales taxes, we will pay them," Gibbs said. "But, most importantly, Fermental isn’t going anywhere. This is a personal issue that I will need to resolve on my own."

He said Fermental would continue to be open, offering wine, beer, food trucks, entertainment and family fun. In addition, he said, Fermental will continue to host and support charity events and donate to a growing list of local nonprofits and schools.

He contended that he was not given a $50,000 bail and the StarNews was incorrect.

"I was released immediately without any bond," he wrote in an email. "I am home with my family, and it was not a traditional 'arrest,' as this was a NCDOR issue. I drove to Raleigh and stayed in a hotel with my wife while we handled these accusations."

The Wake County jail confirmed Gibbs was placed on an unsecured bond for $50,000, meaning he was able to be released without any payment.

Reporter Ashley Morris can be reached at 910-343-2096 or Ashley.Morris@StarNewsOnline.com.