The owner of a recently closed West Columbia buffet has been arrested for tax evasion and operating without a state retail license.

The state Department of Revenue announced Nov. 3 that agents had arrested Donald Herbert Prevette, 62, of West Columbia, owner of Olde Country Buffet, which had operated at two spots along Sunset Boulevard across the past couple years.

“According to arrest warrants, Prevette reported gross sales of $21,838 during a 7-month period in 2022 and 2023, but actual sales totaled $280,874. As a result, he evaded approximately $19,612 in state Sales Tax,” a release states.

The release goes on to detail that Prevette’s retail license was revoked in April 2022.

“According to the warrant, he continued to operate his restaurant without a license even after repeated written and verbal warnings from SCDOR revenue officers,” the release adds.

He faces two counts of tax evasion and one count of operating without a state retail license. If convicted, he would face “a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000 for each count of tax evasion, and 30 days in jail and/or a fine of $200 for operating without a Retail License,” the release states.

Olde Country Buffet — which reopened in June at 1211 Sunset Blvd., taking a spot previously occupied by JackSon's Southern Kitchen in a small strip mall — has been closed for at least a month, a neighboring business confirmed to the Chronicle.

The buffet’s previous location in the Food Lion-anchored Westland Square shopping center (which sits about a mile and half down Sunset Boulevard/U.S. Highway 378) closed with little fanfare earlier this year.

During the restaurant’s regular lunch hours Oct. 27, the space appeared deserted. There was a handwritten sign taped to the door with the message “MEDICAL EMERGENCY” in all caps.

The neighboring business told the Chronicle that around the time Olde Country Buffet ceased operation, an ambulance was seen responding to the restaurant.