Pepperoni's Tavern, the Alpharetta restaurant raided by police for running an illegal NCAA basketball tournament gambling ring, has been operating under a liquor license in a dead woman's name.
According to Channel 2 Action News, the license was issued by the Georgia Department of Revenue in the name of Sandra Klett who, according to death records, died in 2012.
“Someone has been accessing her user name and password to renew the license online,” revenue department official Nick Genesi told Channel 2. He said the offense is punishable by five to 10 years in prison.
New applicants must undergo a background check that includes a visit by a state agent.
Allen Begner, Pepperoni’s lawyer, told Channel 2 the owner tried to notify the state of the name change.
“Certainly there is no allegation that he pretended to be her, the opposite is true,” Begner said.
The state has ordered the restaurant to stop serving alcohol, but the restaurant is appealing the order so it can continue serving alcohol until a hearing is held.
Acting on a tip, police last month arrested 21 people in the bust of the illegal basketball betting game run out of a popular eatery. More than $135,000 and two loaded handguns were seized in the raid.
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