Peter Thomas Begins 18-Month Federal Prison Tax Sentence

Peter Thomas, known from Real Housewives of Atlanta, began serving an 18-month federal prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami on August 1, 2025. He pleaded guilty to willfully failing to collect and pay over more than $2.5 million in employment taxes from 2017 to 2023, including over $1.7 million in taxes withheld from employees of his hospitality businesses such as Bar One locations in Miami and Baltimore. Prosecutors revealed Thomas diverted these funds for personal expenses including luxury travel, real estate, and shopping at high-end retailers, despite repeated warnings and signing IRS forms acknowledging the unpaid taxes. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison—less than the 24 to 30 months recommended by federal guidelines—followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay restitution exceeding $2.5 million to the IRS. Thomas publicly warned other business owners on Instagram to pay withholding taxes to avoid similar legal consequences. His release date has not been officially announced, but he is expected to complete supervised release after his prison term.