NEW YORK — Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, one of the stars of MTV’s “The Jersey Shore,” was indicted for failing to pay taxes on $8.9 million in income.
The U.S. Attorney in New Jersey on Wednesday charged Sorrentino and his brother Marc Sorrentino with falsifying their business and personal tax returns between 2010 and 2012.
According to the indictment, the brothers among other things claimed expensive cars, fancy clothes and “personal grooming expenses,” as legitimate business costs.
“Michael and Marc Sorrentino filed false tax returns that incorrectly reported millions made from promotions and appearances,” said U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. “The brothers allegedly also claimed costly clothes and cars as business expenses and funneled company money into personal accounts.”
Richard Sapinski, the Newark lawyer representing Michael Sorrentino, said his client had surrendered and was expected to be released on a bond later Wednesday.
“We … believe there is no basis to conclude that Michael did anything criminally wrong,” said Sapinski.
Sorrentino was one of the stars of “The Jersey Shore” reality show that ran from 2009 to 2012 on MTV.
The show chronicled the misadventures of a group of housemates spending the summer on the beach. They spent most of their time drinking, fighting and hooking up.
The show was criticized for, among other things, perpetuating negative stereotypes of Italian-Americans.
