Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, of reality television fame, has found himself in a situation of his own.
The 36-year-old former “The Jersey Shore” star on Friday pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. His brother, Marc Sorrentino, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.
“What the defendants admitted to today, quite simply, is tantamount to stealing money from their fellow taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Craig Carpenito. “All of us are required by law to pay our fair share of taxes. Celebrity status does not provide a free pass from this obligation.”
Michael Sorrentino admitted that he concealed a portion of his 2011 income to avoid paying the full amount of taxes. He also deposited less than $10,000 in cash to various bank accounts to avoid the attention of the Internal Revenue Service.
Marc Sorrentino admitted that in 2010 he gave his accountants false information and underreported his income to them as they helped to prepare his personal tax return.
Both will be sentenced April 25.
Michael Sorrentino faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and his brother faces a maximum of three years.
They both also face probation, having to pay restitution and monetary penalties.
Gregg Mark, the accountant for the Sorrentino brothers, pleaded guilty in 2015 to conspiring to defraud the U.S. with respect to their tax liabilities.
