'The Situation,' Brother Facing More Tax Evasion Charges

Former "Jersey Shore" cast member Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino and his brother Marc were indicted Friday on additional tax evasion charges stemming from his attempt to not pay his 2011 taxes by allegedly lying about how much money he made.

Sorrentino and his brother were indicted on tax evasion and falsifying records charges in September 2014.

Michael Sorrentino is now charged with structuring funds to evade currency transaction reports. His brother is now charged with falsifying records to obstruct a grand jury investigation.

The brothers were originally indicted for allegedly conspiring to defraud the United States and tax offenses in September 2014. This new indictment supersedes the previous one, said Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick.

According to the new indictment, the brothers conspired to defraud the federal government by not paying all the income tax owed on about $8.9 million Michael Sorrentino earned from 2010 to 2012, Fitzpatrick said.

They allegedly filed false returns with the IRS that, among other things, hide income payments made to the brothers and underreported their net business income, Fitzpatrick said.

The pair also allegedly commingled funds among businesses and personal bank accounts, using the money to pay for high-end luxury vehicles and clothes.

The new indictment alleges that Michael Sorrentino evaded paying his 2011 taxes by filing false returns for himself and his business, Situation Nation, and hiding his cash income.

The indictment also alleges that Sorrentino made several cash deposits in amounts less than $10,000 on the same day in an effort to evade the banks' reporting requirements.

Marc Sorrentino also allegedly falsified books and records from his and his brother's businesses, Situation Nation and MPS Entertainment, after they were served with subpoenas, Fitzpatrick said. Marc Sorrentino allegedly falsified the books by changing and reclassifying taxable payments to himself and as legitimate business deductions.

Michael Sorrentino faces a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted on all counts; his brother faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the obstruction charge. They also must pay restitution and monetary penalties if convicted.

The brothers are scheduled to be arraigned April 17 in Newark federal court before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton.

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Photo: Michael 'The Situation' Sorrentino outside of the federal courthouse in Newark in 2014.— By Julio Cortez/Associated Press