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The “Jersey Shore” participant and his brother/manager, Marc Sorrentino, were being brought before a federal judge in Newark this afternoon for a first appearance on an indictment charging them with not property paying taxes from promotional appearances.
First, however, “Sitch” posted on Instagram this afternoon: “to be old and wise you must first be young and dumb.”
Each is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, as well as with filing false tax returns for 2010 through 2012, U.S. Attorney Paul S. Fishman said.
Michael Sorrentino faces an additional count for allegedly failing to file a tax return for 2011.
“The law is absolutely clear,” Fishman said this morning. “Telling the truth to the IRS is not optional.” (CLICK HERE to READ THE INDICTMENT)
“Most individuals file truthful tax returns and pay their fair share of taxes,” added Jonathan D. Larsen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. “However, as alleged in today’s indictment, rather than living in reality and reporting their true income, Michael Sorrentino and his brother Marc created the illusion that they earned less income by filing false and fraudulent tax returns.
“No matter what your occupation or status in life, if you attempt to cheat on your taxes for personal financial gain, you face real consequences including criminal prosecution and a possible prison sentence,” Larsen said.
According to the indictment on file in U.S. District Court in Newark:
“The pair conspired to fail to pay all federal income tax owed on approximately $8.9 million earned by Michael Sorrentino between 2010 and 2012. This income was largely received by two companies controlled by the brothers: MPS Entertainment, LLC and Situation Nation, Inc.
“As part of the conspiracy, the brothers submitted or caused to be submitted to the IRS false documents which understated the gross receipts received by the brothers and the two companies. The brothers also submitted false personal tax returns which failed to report all of the income they received, and Michael failed to file a personal tax return in 2011, despite earning
$1,995,757 that year.
“As part of the conspiracy, the brothers also fraudulently claimed millions of dollars in personal expenses as business expenses, including payments for high-end vehicles and clothing, personal grooming expenses, and distributions – or direct payments – from the businesses to personal bank accounts.”
Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation with the probe. Representing the government are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan S. Weitz and Jonathan W. Romankow of Fishman’s Criminal Division in Newark, as well as Trial Attorney Tino Lisella of the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
An arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 6.
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