As expected, reality TV star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and his brother, Marc Sorrentino, pleaded guilty today to violating federal tax laws. The plea was announced today by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito for the District of New Jersey, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen.
Mike Sorrentino, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion, and Marc Sorrentino, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.
The Sorrentino brothers had originally faced a slew of charges. In 2014, the Department of Justice announced that Mike had been charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of filing false tax returns for 2010 through 2012, and one count for allegedly failing to file a tax return for 2011. At the same time, Marc was charged with one count of conspiracy and three counts of filing false tax returns. Both initially pleaded not guilty.
Last year, the Department of Justice announced additional charges against the pair.
“Today’s pleas are a reminder to all individuals to comply with the tax laws, file honest and accurate returns and pay their fair share,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman. “The Tax Division is committed to continuing to work with the IRS to prosecute those who seek to cheat the system, while honest hardworking taxpayers play by the rules.”
“What the defendants admitted to today, quite simply, is tantamount to stealing money from their fellow taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney 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.”
“As we approach this year’s filing season, today’s guilty pleas should serve as a stark reminder to those who would attempt to defraud our nation’s tax system,” stated Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office.
No matter what your stature is in our society, everyone is expected to play by the rules, and those who do not will be held accountable and brought to justice.
It wasn’t the first plea to come out of the investigation: In 2015, Gregg Mark, former tax preparer for the Sorrentinos, pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns for the pair.
As part of the plea, Mike admitted that he earned taxable income in 2011, including some paid in cash, and that he concealed a portion of his income to evade paying the full amount of taxes he owed. He also made cash deposits into bank accounts in amounts less than $10,000, to ensure that these deposits would not come to the attention of the IRS.
As part of the plea, Marc admitted that he earned taxable income in 2010, and that he assisted his accountants in preparing his personal tax return by willfully providing them with false information and fraudulently underreporting his income.
Henry E. Klingeman and Kristen M. Santillo, attorneys for Michael Sorrentino, issued the following statement regarding the plea:
Today, Michael Sorrentino has come to terms with mistakes he made at a very different and tumultuous time in his life. He deeply regrets his failure to pay his taxes, and has spent the past several years turning his life into something positive. He has been sober for two years, counseled other young people facing life’s stresses, and has built a stable, loving relationship with his girlfriend Lauren Pesce, who stands by his side. The plea terms call for a balance between punishing the wrong committed and conditions that facilitate Mike living a productive, law-abiding life moving forward. Following through on this plea agreement, Michael intends to pay restitution before sentencing. We hope that the Court will consider the totality of the circumstances, including Michael’s minor role in the offense, and impose a fair sentence. In the meantime, he will continue to entertain millions on “Jersey Shore” and thanks everyone who has expressed support.
Sentencing for the Sorrentinos is scheduled for April 25. Mike faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for tax evasion, while Marc faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return. Both also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
