Michigan Charges Former Detroit Restaurant Owner With Tax Felonies
Ronald Bartell and Kuzzo's LLC face five felony tax counts tied to sales tax violations during the restaurant's operation.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Dining Out
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced five felony tax charges against Ronald Bartell, 44, of Detroit, and his company, Kuzzo's LLC, for alleged state sales tax violations. Bartell and the LLC were arraigned Tuesday in the 54A District Court in Lansing.
Why it matters
The charges center on alleged sales tax violations during the years Kuzzo's operated, a matter affecting state tax compliance and the Detroit dining scene. Each count is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The charges are five counts of Taxes - Failure to File/False Return/Payment, each a felony carrying up to five years in prison. The release did not specify the amount of tax allegedly owed.
The players
Dana Nessel
Michigan's Attorney General, whose office filed and announced the tax charges against the restaurant owner and his company.
Ronald Bartell
Owner and operator of Kuzzo's Chicken and Waffles in Detroit, facing five felony tax counts.
The details
Kuzzo's Chicken and Waffles, an Avenue of Fashion restaurant at 19345 Livernois Ave., opened in late January 2015 and closed for about seven months in 2023 before reopening that July. The restaurant closed earlier this year, and the charges allegedly stem from violations of state sales tax law during Bartell's years operating it.
Timeline
January 2015: Bartell opened Kuzzo's at 19345 Livernois Ave.
2023: The restaurant closed for about seven months before reopening in July.
2026: The restaurant closed after 11 years of operation.
Thursday, November 5: Michigan Attorney General announced the charges.
Tuesday, November 3: Bartell and Kuzzo's LLC were arraigned in 54A District Court in Lansing.
Health Landscape
Felony tax prosecutions brought by the Michigan Attorney General's office against individual restaurant operators show state enforcement reaching small, owner-run food businesses. The case adds to the record of sales-tax enforcement applied to Detroit-area dining establishments.
Detroit diners who patronized Kuzzo's during its operating years are not directly affected by the charges. For residents, the case is a reminder that state sales tax obligations apply to restaurants, and that the Attorney General's office enforces them.
The takeaway
Restaurants that collect sales tax must remit it accurately and on time, since state enforcement can result in felony charges. Diners can check that a restaurant's tax and licensing status is current when evaluating local dining options.
What happens next
Bartell and Kuzzo's LLC are scheduled to appear in 54A District Court on a date not yet set.
Further reading
For more on the local food scene, explore Dining Out coverage across Detroit.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Detroit Free Press.
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Should businesses that fail to remit sales tax face felony charges in Michigan?
