Unalaska, AK – Local taxi cab driver Sheila Taranto's chauffeurs license was revoked after she pled guilty to violating city and state laws. Her taxi company, Mr. Kab, will no longer be in business starting on Feb. 1. Taranto pled guilty to one count of theft in the second degree for over charging customers. Excess charges ranged from 60 cents to $144 and totaled $601.10.

Taranto said that she did not intentionally do anything wrong; they were simply book keeping errors made when managing more than 100 different accounts. She called the charges and the investigation "disgusting" and said she only pled guilty because she could not afford to continue fighting the case.

Taranto also pled guilty to three city violations for not completing trip sheets that document the number of passengers and their fares, as is required by city law. City attorney Brooks Chandler said the sheets are necessary for city record keeping.

"It provides a basis to confirm that the rates being charged are appropriate. The other reason that trip sheets are important from the city's perspective is that we have a sales tax that applies to taxi fares, and therefore they provide a means by which we can check and be sure that a proper sales tax is being collected and then remitted to the city."

According to a Department of Public Safety press release, "the investigation into Taranto's business affairs was initiated in October 2008 after one of Taranto's customers filed a complaint with the police department about inaccurate billing. Officers investigating Taranto's Mr. Kab business records discovered over 1,200 violations of city ordinances."

Taranto's company, Mr. Kab, has four taxi permits. Two will be returned to the city, one will be given to another individual, and the third she can sell within the next 60 days. She will pay $800 in fines to the city and $600 in restitution and is on probation for two years.

Taranto said that on Monday Mr. Kab will be closed, but she will stay in the community and run a new business. Shelia's Expediting and Tours will work on contract to transport crews and complete deliveries.