Santucci’s pizza owner pleads guilty to tax evasion, concealing .8 million from the IRS.

Frank Santucci Sr., a prominent figure in the New Jersey-Philadelphia pizza scene, has admitted to significant tax evasion, acknowledging that he concealed .8 million in income over a span of four years. This tax misconduct resulted in an estimated loss of nearly 5,000 in tax revenue for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The 66-year-old owner of Santucci’s Original Square Pizza has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of tax evasion and two counts of filing false tax returns. His formal admission of guilt was reported by Media News Source and is set against a backdrop of serious legal consequences, including a potential maximum sentence of 16 years in prison and a hefty fine of up to million, with sentencing scheduled for November 3.

Prosecutors have accused Santucci of maintaining two separate financial ledgers from 2015 to 2018 for one of his pizzerias. One set of records documented the business’s legitimate income, payroll, and expenses, while the other tracked the cash earnings that were kept hidden from tax authorities. This dual-record-keeping strategy allowed Santucci to evade reporting his full income to the IRS, undermining the integrity of his business operations.

Santucci inherited the family business, which he took over in 1976, and has since transformed it from a small establishment into a well-known brand with 15 locations throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey. Established more than 65 years ago, the pizzeria has earned a distinguished reputation and a place in the Pizza Hall of Fame, with Eater Philadelphia once dubbing the Santuccis as part of the city’s elite “royal families of pie.”

After his admission of guilt, Santucci was released on recognizance bail set at ,000. His release comes with several stipulations, including a commitment to pursue mental health services, undergo treatment for drug and alcohol issues, surrender his passport, relinquish any firearms in his possession, and remain within the state of New Jersey.

While his attorney, Richard Fuschino, expressed that Santucci’s past actions should not reflect on the current standing of the business, the impending sentencing looms as a significant moment for both Santucci and the legacy of Santucci’s Original Square Pizza.