Owner of Kirsikka Jewelry Arrested For Tax Crimes

The owner of Kirsikka Jewelry, Alexis Hytonen, was arrested on a warrant last Saturday on one count of larceny, two counts of sales tax refusal, and three counts of failing to file six consecutive tax returns.

Revenue Investigator-Criminal Enforcement Officer Julie L. Woodard wrote in her sworn statement, “Through the acquisition of documentary evidence, witness testimony, and Hytonen's own admission, I found that for the periods January 2019 through December 2020, Hytonen, the owner of the business, collected and failed to remit $18,637.59, in sales tax to the State of Florida Department of Revenue, thereby depriving the State of Florida of sales tax revenue.”

Woodard summarized what Hytonen said in her interview with him, stating, “The returns were not filed, and the tax collected was not paid in a timely manner due to his father's illness and the family responsibilities that he was dealing with. He stated that the records that he provided to the Department of Revenue are accurate and that he occasionally utilized the business funds in the business bank accounts, including sales tax, to keep the business operational."

The sworn statement details that Florida Department of Revenue specialists attempted to make contact with Hytonen on his discrepancies twenty times, with twelve being successful. From the winter through the summer of 2019, Hytonen was given multiple extensions to give him further time to submit the payments, however, he eventually stopped communicating with the revenue specialists.  

The sworn statement was filed in October of 2021, however, charges were not filed until this month. 

Yesterday, Hytonen was released on recognizance, i.e., under the condition that he appear at all scheduled hearings. He has an arraignment hearing scheduled for May 29. He cannot be granted a continuance.