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Trial of ‘The Situation,’ brother moved to September

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A federal judge today moved the trial of TV personality Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino and his brother on charges of ducking taxes on $8.9 million in income from promotional gigs while claiming pricey clothing, high-end cars and personal grooming as business expenses to Sept 14.

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The “Jersey Shore” participant and his brother/manager, Marc Sorrentino, were indicted last fall on charges of not properly paying taxes from promotional appearances.

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.

Michael Sorrentino faces an additional count for allegedly failing to file a tax return for 2011.

“The law is absolutely clear,” , U.S. Attorney Paul S. Fishman said when they were indicted. “Telling the truth to the IRS is not optional.”

(CLICK HERE to READ THE INDICTMENT)

U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton issued a “complex case” designation and a continuance order that pushes the trial to late summer.

The original trial date was March 2.

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.

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