Second Broad Ripple Bar Owner Criminally Charged
Second Broad Ripple Bar Owner Charged for Underreporting Sales to State
INDIANAPOLIS–A second Broad Ripple bar owner has been charged for underreporting sales to the State of Indiana.
68-year-old Robert Sabatini, owner of Rock Lobster, Mineshaft Saloon, and Average Joes in Broad Ripple is facing 27 charges including 12 counts of failure to remit taxes held in trust (Level 6 felonies), 12 counts of failure to remit food and beverage tax (Level 6 felonies), and three counts of failure to keep records open for examination (Level 6 felonies). That was announced by Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears on Tuesday.
Mears says multiple law enforcement agencies began looking into the business practices of bars in Broad Ripple starting in July 2023. Those include the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Indiana State Excise Police, and the Indiana Department of Revenue.
During this time, investigators say they found that Sabatini “underreported total taxable sales in the amount of $3,986,303 and failed to remit $358,768 in total taxes.”
Sabatini is the second Broad Ripple bar owner to be charged this month.
On June 12, John Yaggi, owner of Connor’s Pub, was charged after he “failed to keep basic financial records for several years.” Yaggi was also accused of soliciting sexual favors from an employee in exchange for giving them better-paying shifts.
Mears says these charges are the result of a multi-agency effort to combat corrupt business practices in Indianapolis.
“Broad Ripple Village is filled with local businesses who are willing to pay their fair share and are under the presumption that other establishments have the same commitment to equity. Unfortunately, the allegations uncovered in these two investigations illustrate a pattern of corruption that hinders the trust of patrons and the community alike,” said Mears.
