RHOA Star Peter Thomas Sentenced to 18 Months for Failed Tax Payments

Charlotte Businessman Sentenced for $2.5 Million Tax Fraud Scheme

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A story of high stakes and misuse of power unraveled today as Peter Anthony Thomas, 63, a former Charlotte resident now living in Miami, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for a significant tax crime. Announced by U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina, Thomas must also pay $2,526,131.99 in restitution to the IRS.

Thomas, who pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024, to failing to account for and pay trust fund taxes for his employees at PT Media, LLC, owned several well-known establishments, including Club One CLT, Sports ONE, and Bar One Miami Beach. Between 2017 and 2023, Thomas collected over $2.5 million in employment taxes from his businesses’ employees but instead funneled the funds into personal indulgences.

According to court records, the misused taxes funded more than $2.5 million in cash withdrawals, luxury travel, real estate investments, and extravagant purchases at high-end retailers like Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Givenchy. Over $2.9 million was also funneled between his businesses in Charlotte, Miami, and Baltimore, further fueling his financial schemes.

IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent Donald “Trey” Eakins described the case as a bold violation of trust, highlighting the importance of accountability for financial crimes.

Thomas, who controlled the financial operations of his businesses, neglected his duty to pay employee taxes to the IRS, resulting in significant losses. His sentence serves as a stark reminder that misusing tax dollars comes with serious consequences.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick led the prosecution, while IRS-Criminal Investigation worked tirelessly to uncover the financial misconduct.

Thomas is required to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a facility, marking the end of a chapter filled with deception and luxury at the expense of his employees and the U.S. government.