ROCKFORD, IL — Lawyers for former Rockford restauranteur James “Jimmy” Vitale and his bookkeeper have filed a motion to dismiss most of the charges of theft and tax evasion filed last year by Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office.
Vitale, 75, of Belvidere, who owned and operated the Stone Eagle Tavern in Rockford and Hoffman Estates, and his bookkeeper, Lori A. Rice, 53, of Rockford, have pleaded not guilty to charges they defrauded the state of Illinois out of more than $100,000 in sales taxes.
Their lawyers are asking the court to dismiss most of the charges in the case, making among other arguments, that the government’s accusations may were made too late and outside of the statute of limitations…