Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino pled guilty to tax fraud earlier today. Despite owning up to his mistakes, the Jersey Shore star isn’t getting off the hook.
Mike, 36, pled guilty to one count of tax evasion, while his brother Marc Sorrentino, 38, plead guilty to one count of aiding in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.
“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,” the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman said. “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.”
He continued how the Sorrentino brothers admitted to “stealing money from their fellow taxpayers.”
“All of us are required by law to pay our share of taxes,” he said. “Celebrity status does not provide a free pass from this obligation.”
Mike faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for tax evasion. His brother faces a maximum of three years for aiding in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.
The brothers will appear in court for sentencing on April 25.
After admitting to the crime, Mike insisted he is a changed man.
“Today, Michael Sorrentino has come to terms with mistakes he made at a very different and tumultuous time in his life,” his attorney said in a statement to The Blast. “He deeply regrets his failure to pay his taxes, and has spent the past several years turning his life into something positive.”
The statement continued, “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.”
His attorney hopes the court will impose a “fair sentence.”
In September 2014, the Federal Grand Jury indicted the siblings for failing to pay taxes on $8.9 million of income.
They were also accused of filing false tax returns with the IRS in relation to Mike’s businesses.
Then in April 2017, Mike was hit with more charges of tax evasion and structuring funds to evade currency-transaction reports. His manager brother was charged with falsifying records to obstruct a grand jury investigation.
Mike will begin filming Jersey Shore: Family Vacation with his co-stars Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Pauly “Pauly D” DelVecchio, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Vinny Guadagnino and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro in Miami.
