Manasquan Man, Former Charlie Brown's CEO Gets 2 Years for Fraud, Tax Evasion

A federal court judge sentenced the former CEO of the Charlie Brown's Steakhouse restaurant chain to two years in prison on Thursday.

Russell D'Anton, a Manasquan resident, had previously pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tax evasion, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office. 

The 50-year-old man served as the company's chief from 1999 to 2008. A federal indictment alleged that D'Anton and Charlie Brown's vice president Michael Mulligan of West Milford received kickbacks from vendors who received he company's business in return.

The charges against D'Anton stem from his attempts to conceal those payments from his employers. D'Anton reportedly filed fraudulent tax returns, failing to report the kickbacks as income.

According to the U.S. Attorney, in 2005 D'Anton did not report $123,000 in taxable income. 

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Mary L. Cooper will require D'Anton to pay restitution in a yet to be determined amount.

Another local man, David Slabon of Sea Girt, is awaiting sentencing related to the case.

Slabon, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit commercial bribery and one count conspiracy to commit wire fraud. While serving as CEO of Designline Construction Services, Slabon paid kickbacks to D'Anton.