Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino pleads not guilty in tax-fraud case

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges in a New Jersey court on Thursday.

The “Jersey Shore” alum, 32, who along with his brother Marc was indicted in September, appeared in U.S. District Court for the arraignment, where attorneys entered the not-guilty pleas for the brothers, according to New Jersey’s Star-Ledger and the Associated Press.

The Sorrentinos stand accused of failing to pay federal taxes on nearly $9 million in income and were charged with conspiracy to defraud the federal government and filing false tax returns, including failing to report large cash payments the reality star received for promotional appearances.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Wigenton set a Dec. 2 trial date.

The Situation and his brother were originally expected to appear in court Oct. 6, but the arraignment was postponed because the reality star was busy filming “Marriage Boot Camp” with fiancee Lauren Pesce in Los Angeles. His attorney submitted a letter to get the appearance postponed, and Pesce appeared alongside her fiance on Thursday.

The Situation faces two counts of filing false returns for 2010 and 2012 in addition to one count of failing to file taxes for 2011. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 11 years in prison

His brother faces three counts of filing false returns from 2010 through 2012 and faces up to 14 years in prison.

This past summer, the MTV alum was ordered to take anger-management classes after getting into a brawl with another brother, Frank Sorrentino, at the family’s tanning salon in Middleton Township.

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