*Here’s an update on the story of Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles restaurants being raided by Georgia state authorities. Shanga Hankerson, Gladys Knight‘s son, turned himself in at the Clayton County Jail, a spokesman for the Georgia Department of Revenue said.
Hankerson, also the son of entertainment industry figure Barry Hankerson, was released on a $20,000 bond Wednesday afternoon, according to online inmate records.
As we reported, on Tuesday, authorities raided the restaurants owned by Hankerson, 39, who is accused of tax evasion.
According to a Page Six report, state agents said Hankerson stole more than $650,000 in sales and withholding taxes for his own use. With penalties and interest, the total would be more than $1 million, according to officials.
By lunchtime on Wednesday, all three restaurants were closed.
“It is never The Department of Revenue’s primary goal to shut down a business,” said Josh Waites, investigations chief for the Department of Revenue. “We are working with Mr. Hankerson’s attorney to have the business up and running again as soon as possible.”
READ RELATED STORY: Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles in Atlanta Raided by State Authorities
State officials hope to strike a deal with Hankerson to put the restaurants into receivership so they can open again.
For the record, Gladys Knight, is not suspected of any wrongdoing. In fact, in a statement, the 72-year-old singer makes it know that she has absolutely nothing to do with her son’s business other than lending her name to it.
“Gladys Knight lent her name to her son’s restaurants in the Atlanta area, similar to a celebrity endorsement,” Knight’s spokeswoman Laura Herlovich said. “Knight was not involved in any way with the operation of the restaurants, and she is sure that her son and his business partners will rectify the situation.”
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