Mystic Pizza owner faces possible prison time after pleading guilty to federal tax charges

Republished April 02, 2015 - 11:11 AM

Original Publication Date April 02, 2015 - 3:20 AM

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The owner of the Mystic Pizza restaurant made famous in a 1988 film has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 48-year-old John Zelepos of North Stonington faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to tax evasion and financial structuring offences.

Prosecutors say that between 2006 and 2010 Zelepos diverted just over $567,000 from Mystic Pizza's gross receipts into his personal bank accounts and those of family members. They say he then filed false tax returns to hide the income.

Mystic Pizza has become a tourist attraction since Julia Roberts starred in the movie about the lives of three waitresses working at the small-town pizza parlour.

Zelepos is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23.

News from © The Associated Press, 2015

More News ...

iN RESPONSE: Readers have their say
Following are emailed reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the third week of April 2024. They have been edited slightly for readability. Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjo

As the climate changes, so too do Canadians' farm fields and dinner tables
Canada's farm fields are in the midst of a transformation. As the country rapidly warms from human-caused climate change, farmers are being pushed to reconsider conventional wisdom about what can and can't survive in this northern c

Kansas won't have legal medical pot or expand Medicaid for at least another year
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will remain among the handful of states that haven't legalized the medical use of marijuana or expanded their Medicaid programs for at least another year. Republican state senators on Friday blocked effo

Dog causes damage to West Kelowna pool; both parties responsible, court says
A West Kelowna woman was ordered to pay $500 in damages to her neighbour’s pool because her friend’s dog broke through the fence, got into the pool and damaged it. But it could have been a lot worse for her, according to a Civil

Popular vernon News

Why tree planting in BC is not reforestation
Tree planting in the wake of clear-cuts isn't as successful as it may seem and is causing dire consequences for local wildlife, increasing the risks of floods and wildfires and slowly killing
April 27, 2024 6:00 PM
Armstrong mom sues son, his ex-wife after helping them buy first home
CONTENT ADVISORY When an Armstrong woman loaned her son and his new wife money to get established in a modular home, she didn’t bother writing a contract. But when the marriage
April 27, 2024 7:00 AM
Dog causes damage to West Kelowna pool; both parties responsible, court says
A West Kelowna woman was ordered to pay $500 in damages to her neighbour’s pool because her friend’s dog broke through the fence, got into the pool and damaged it. But it could h
April 28, 2024 7:00 AM
8.5 years for Kamloops man who sexually assaulted his daughter
CONTENT ADVISORY A Kamloops man who filmed himself sexually assaulting his daughter, then bragged about it online, was handed a more than eight year prison sentence. The decision was
April 26, 2024 6:00 PM
Accessing gender-affirming care proves difficult for Kelowna transgender man
Being transgender comes with its fair share of challenges including discrimination, body dysphoria, mental health issues, access to proper healthcare, the list goes on. When it comes to being tran
April 28, 2024 6:00 AM

Trending Now

TRENDING NOW: Roles reverse and the hare hunts the hawk

View Site in: Desktop | Mobile

Mystic Pizza owner faces possible prison time after pleading guilty to federal tax charges

Trending Now

Kamloops

Kelowna

Penticton

Vernon