A local businessman was arrested on alcohol license and catering violations following a private business Christmas party Saturday.
Larry Brian Carter of Oakfield Drive, owner of 40 East Grill on East Main Street in Statesboro, is charged with shipping alcoholic beverages without a license and unlawful acts of catering, according to Bulloch County Jail records.
Carter, 45, was arrested Monday by Georgia Department of Revenue agents after the agency received a complaint and investigated the party, held Saturday at The Hall, a venue behind 40 East Grill that also is owned by Carter, according to Georgia Department of Revenue incident reports. Carter was released on bond Monday.
Efforts to reach Carter for comment Tuesday by cell phone, as well as at his business, were unsuccessful.
According to reports, Carter’s alcohol license for 40 East was suspended Nov. 21 due to violation of tax laws as well as violation of catering laws. The license suspension for those violations was lifted Tuesday, but the suspension was still in full effect Saturday, Dec. 2, when the private business Christmas party was held.
There is no alcohol license for The Hall. Alcoholic beverages, as well as food and other services served at the party were catered from 40 East, reports stated.
In addition to operating and serving alcohol while under license suspension, Carter allegedly transported alcoholic beverages Saturday from 40 East to The Hall, and failed to submit required paperwork regarding catering events with alcohol, according to Department of Revenue reports.
Georgia Department of Revenue Special Agent Andrew Williams received the complaint from an unidentified person Saturday and arrived at the party, where he seized the illegal alcohol. Three others serving as bartenders also were cited, reports said.
Facing a $1,350 fine as well as being made to pay back taxes regarding the Nov. 21 suspension, Carter now will appear before a state court judge Dec. 13 regarding the Dec. 2 violations, according to the Department of Revenue.
40 East was open Tuesday, as the Nov. 21 license suspension had been lifted on that date. However, Carter’s alcohol license could be suspended again or revoked regarding the Dec. 2 violations, and a judge will decide upon additional fines, if any, according to a Department of Revenue spokesperson.
Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.