Restaurateur From Main Line Indicted On 29 Counts Of Tax Fraud

PHILADELPHIA — A Lower Merion resident who founded a recognizable cheesesteak eatery was indicted for nearly 30 counts of tax fraud relating to the Philadelphia restaurants he operated.

Chuck Weiner, of Penn Valley, was the longtime owner of Max's Steaks — a cheesesteak spot in Philadelphia that appeared in multiple "Creed" movies. He founded the restaurant in 1994 and sold it last year.

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Weiner also owned Clock Bar, which is on the same block of Germantown Avenue.

From 2019-23, Weiner and two other employees paid workers at both restaurants all or partly in cash, according to federal prosecutors.

Weiner provided accountants with false information about the restaurants' wages, earnings and expenses, resulting in false corporate tax returns and employment tax filings, authorities said.

The 79-year-old was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, 22 counts of willful failure to withhold and pay employment taxes, and six counts of aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns.

Weiner's listed attorney didn't immediately return comment to Patch.