GREENFIELD — The owner of Goodies Restaurant has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Springfield to five counts of filing false tax returns over the course of five years, allegedly taking a substantial amount of cash sales from the business, which he did not declare as income.
According to a news release from U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz’s office, Ioanis Dimitriou, 48, of Montague allegedly paid only 5 percent of the more than $232,000 in taxes he owed between 2008 and 2012, systematically deleting records from his computer system. but keeping two sets of books that depicted the actual sales of the business and the sales disclosed on his tax returns.
When reached by phone Tuesday evening, Dimitriou said he’s a hard-working man and a good business owner, and the charges alone don’t show a fair side of the story.
“Unless you know me well and my character and what I do, it’s not a fair judgment,” he said. “I will pay everything that I owe. I’m not asking for anyone’s mercy or a penny from anyone.”
Dimitriou said he has six children and has owned Goodies for “19 difficult years.” In 2009, he expanded the restaurant, buying and demolishing two houses nearby at the request of customers.
The renovations cost him $900,000, he said.
“When the renovations finished, you didn’t see those customers anymore,” Dimitriou said. “Nobody sees that my family and I work 90 to 100 hours in here a week.”
He declined to comment further, but the restaurant remains open.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 30. Dimitriou could face up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000 and restitution, according to the release. However, actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office could not be reached for further comment Tuesday evening.
You can reach Aviva Luttrell at:
aluttrell@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 268
On Twitter follow: @AvivaLuttrell