Tax charges for Fairfax City restaurateur

The owner of a Fairfax City restaurant has been charged with embezzlement for allegedly failing to pay meals tax collections totaling nearly $26,000, police said.

Police said that Cindi Azzouz, 35, owner of Pizzarama, failed to pay meals taxes collected at the restaurant over five six-month periods between December 2006 and June 2010.

Reports of meals taxes collected are required to be submitted along with the funds to the City on a monthly basis.

Azzouz has been charged with five felony counts of embezzlement.

When the restaurant was searched on Nov. 5, $4,000 in cash was seized, according to police.

Azzouz was arrested on Dec. 17 and subsequently released on $20,000 bond.