Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison on Tax Evasion Charges
The Jersey Shore star admitted to concealing income from the Internal Revenue Service in January.
Jersey Shore star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was sentenced to eight months in prison on charges of tax evasion in federal court on Friday.
The reality star, 36, pleaded guilty in January to one count of tax evasion for hiding income from the Internal Revenue Service and falsifying documents. Sorrentino's brother, Marc, was sentenced to two years on similar charges.
Shortly after the premiere and subsequent popularity of Jersey Shore in 2009, the brothers established several companies through which they sought to capitalize on Sorrentino's sudden fame. According to indictment documents, companies including Situation Nation, Inc., Situation Productions, and GTL Management were used to facilitate product endorsements, book promotional and television appearances, broker brand partnerships, and even publish a comic book.
Sorrentino and his brother admitted to depositing income in increments of less than $10,000 in order to evade the attention of the IRS (banks are required to notify the Treasury of deposits larger than $10,000). They also pleaded guilty to using business accounts to pay for high-end luxury vehicles, jewelry, and clothing. In total, the brothers had earned almost $9 million from 2010 to 2013 that they failed to report or pay federal taxes on. Their indictment hearing took place just days before filming of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation was to begin in Miami. Though the sentencing was originally scheduled for April, Judge Susan Wigenton postponed it so Sorrentino could appear on the show.
Prosecutors sought a sentence of 14 months, while attorneys for the defendant requested probation, citing their client's recent recovery from substance abuse. Among those gathered to support Sorrentino at the Newark, New Jersey courthouse on Friday were his fiancé, Lauren Pesce, and Jersey Shore housemates Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Vinnie Guadagnino, and Deena Cortese.
"I'm hoping for positive results for him," said Polizzi in a previous interview with People. "He's full of life and energy."
When asked how his friend and castmate would handle time behind bars, Guadagnino said, "I think he would handle it better than a lot of people out there, just because his mind is very positive right now," he said. "He accepts everything and he takes everything one day at a time. He has all the tools to get through what he's going through."
In addition to prison time, Sorrentino's sentence includes $123,913 in restitution already paid, 500 hours of community service, and a $10,000 fine.
Rebecca Linde is a writer and cultural critic in NYC. She tweets about pop culture and television @rklinde.
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