Rafael Salas, Jr., 52, of Columbia, was sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison after pleading guilty to failing to pay to the taxes he withheld from his employees’ paychecks.

From January 2014 through August 2016, Salas owned and operated Moonshiner’s Patio Bar and Grill in Lexington, and employed approximately 20 employees during each tax period.

While failing to file Moonshiner’s quarterly tax returns and failing to fully pay the company’s employment taxes, Salas withheld trust fund taxes from his employees’ wages.

Salas used the withholdings to pay personal expenses including $36,000 for his personal dwelling, $11,000 for a boat and trailer and expenses of roughly $10,000 at a local strip club.

Salas was also on probation for a 2016 federal conviction for conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce at the time of this offense.