Philadelphia businessman and pizza shop owner Cihan Calkap has been caught red-handed in a web of deceit that cheated the federal government out of nearly $2 million in taxes.
In a shocking display of audacity, Calkap, 42, used creative accounting to keep his North Philly pizzeria's earnings hidden from prying eyes. Instead of depositing cash into the store's register, he opted for a dodgy system that paid himself and employees primarily in cash, allowing him to avoid reporting income and payroll.
As part of this scheme, Calkap also lied about the number of employees at his shop, claiming only four workers when in reality there were 25 people employed. This false information was used by his accountant to file forms that underreported both Mimmo's corporate tax returns and Calkap's personal income tax returns.
On Tuesday, Calkap pleaded guilty to tax evasion as part of a deal with prosecutors. The plea deal comes with severe consequences: up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release, plus a $250,000 fine and restitution to the IRS for unpaid taxes. Sentencing is set for May 14.
Calkap's brazen scheme has left taxpayers with a sizeable bill – a staggering $1.8 million that could have gone towards vital public services instead of lining his pockets. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and transparency when it comes to tax obligations.
In a shocking display of audacity, Calkap, 42, used creative accounting to keep his North Philly pizzeria's earnings hidden from prying eyes. Instead of depositing cash into the store's register, he opted for a dodgy system that paid himself and employees primarily in cash, allowing him to avoid reporting income and payroll.
As part of this scheme, Calkap also lied about the number of employees at his shop, claiming only four workers when in reality there were 25 people employed. This false information was used by his accountant to file forms that underreported both Mimmo's corporate tax returns and Calkap's personal income tax returns.
On Tuesday, Calkap pleaded guilty to tax evasion as part of a deal with prosecutors. The plea deal comes with severe consequences: up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release, plus a $250,000 fine and restitution to the IRS for unpaid taxes. Sentencing is set for May 14.
Calkap's brazen scheme has left taxpayers with a sizeable bill – a staggering $1.8 million that could have gone towards vital public services instead of lining his pockets. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and transparency when it comes to tax obligations.
and now we gotta pay for his stupidity 1.8 million is a lot of money could've gone towards so many good things instead of filling his pockets poor america 
can't believe this guy's audacity! He thought he was clever using creative accounting, but really he just ended up being a greedy pig who couldn't even be bothered to do his own taxes 
. $2 million is a huge amount of money that could've been used for so many good things - like funding schools or hospitals in Philly. And now he's gonna have to pay the price, which is way too little considering what he did 
I just don't get it... is he really worth five years in prison? 
. But now he's gonna have to face the music 
and maybe even do some time in prison 
. I mean, who tries to cheat on their taxes? 
. And to think all that money could've gone towards good causes 
instead of lining his pockets 
. You gotta be all about honesty and transparency when it comes to tax time 
.
! $2 million is a huge chunk of change that could've been used for so many good things, and he just went ahead and cooked the books to keep it all for himself. I mean, who does that? 
It's not like he was hiding a little money or something – we're talking about nearly 2 MILLION dollars! That's just not right, you feel me? 
.
. I mean, who tries to cheat on taxes? It's not like he was some underground dealer dodging the cops or something. Just a small business owner trying to make ends meet...nope, that's not how it works. He gets caught because his accountant messed up and they did an audit. And now he's gotta pay the price. Five years in prison? That's harsh, but I guess you can't just take advantage of the system like that. Still, it's a shame, 'cause who knows what could've been done with all that money for good causes... 
I'm like "how did he even get away with this for so long??!" 
I mean, come on $2 million? That's insane! You'd think that with all the tech we got nowadays like online accounting software and whatnot, it's not that hard to keep track of your finances. But I guess some people just don't care about getting caught. 
.
... Cihan Calkap's actions are just mind-bogglingly greedy 
.
. But hey, I guess Calkap thought he was above the law 
. So yeah, let's just hope he gets his comeuppance and serves up a healthy dose of karma with his prison sentence 
. This case is a major reminder to always be honest and transparent, or you'll end up like Calkap - sleeping with the fishes 
.
. And now we're left with a huge bill to pay because of his shady dealings