The owners of a chain of landmark New Jersey shore pizza places have pleaded not guilty to charges they face in a federal tax case.
Manco and Manco owners Charles and Mary Bangle entered their pleas Monday in federal court in Camden. They were charged earlier this month.
The government said in a 30-count indictment that the couple failed to report $980,000 in income from 2007 until 2011, the year they bought the shop, which was then known as Mack and Manco. The name was later changed to reflect a long-ago split between the founding families.
The government says that had the income been reported, it would have been subject to federal taxes of $336,000.
Charles Bangle is also accused of moving $340,000 over that span from the business accounts of the Ocean City-area shops to personal accounts in increments of less than $10,000. Authorities say that was done so the couple's bank would not be required to report the transaction.
A judge set a trial date for June 9, but it's expected it will be delayed.
Monday's hearing also marks the start of exchanging evidence between the government and the defense lawyers.
"We'll start getting some of the reports and alleged evidence and we'll move forward from there," Rocco Cipparone, a lawyer for Mary Bangle, said after the hearing.
The Bangles are both free after posting unsecured bonds after they were arrested. Federal prosecutors say they have turned in their passports and several guns from their Somers Point home as conditions of their release.
