Soupman CFO is hit on tax rap
No tax for you! The chief financial officer for Staten Island-based Soupman Inc. — a company made famous by the iconic “Soup Nazi” episode of “Seinfeld” — was busted Tuesday for not paying half a million dollars in taxes over four years.
Robert Bertrand, 62, didn’t pay Medicare, Social Security and federal income taxes to the tune of more than $593,000 by not reporting cash earnings or the fact that Soupman employees were compensated on the side with stock awards, the US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn said.
The scheme lasted from 2010 to 2014 — resulting in more than $2.8 million in cash and stock compensation flying under the radar, the feds said.
Bertrand, of Norwalk, Conn., pleaded not guilty to a 20-count indictment in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday afternoon. He was released on $50,000 bond cosigned by his daughter.
Bertrand had no comment as he walked out of court.
The company didn’t return a message seeking comment. It’s unclear whether Bertrand still works for Soupman.