Owners of popular roast beef spot plead guilty to fraud

BEVERLY, Mass. (AP) — The owners of a popular Massachusetts restaurant have pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges.

Nicholas Koudanis and Nichols Markos, co-owners of Nick’s Famous Roast Beef in Beverly, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the filing of false tax returns and conspiracy on Tuesday.

The Salem News reports that Koudanis’ wife, Eleni, pleaded guilty to the same charges last Thursday. Their son, Steven Koudanis, pleaded guilty to obstruction.

Prosecutors say the owners under-reported the establishment’s income by $6 million over a six-year span.

The four involved must pay back more than $2 million in unpaid taxes and penalties.

Nicholas Koudanis faces to up to three years in prison. The possible terms for the other three defendants are not yet specified.

They all face sentencing April 26.

___

Information from: The Salem (Mass.) News, http://www.salemnews.com