Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, who starred on MTV’s erstwhile Jersey Shore, pleaded not guilty to tax fraud charges at a New Jersey court on Wednesday alongside his brother Marc.

'The Situation' Pleads Not Guilty To Tax Fraud

The Sorrentino brothers have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States by not paying taxes on nearly $9 million in income. The Situation has also been charged with two counts of filing false tax returns, while his brother is facing three counts for failing to file tax returns. In 2011, Mike Sorrentino is accused of failing to file a tax return on more than $1.9 million, reported People magazine.

"From in or about January 2010 through in or about November 2013, in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere, defendants Marc Sorrentino and Michael Sorrentino, aka 'The Situation,' did knowingly and intentionally conspire and agree with each other and others to defraud the United States by impeding, impairing, obstructing, and defeating, through deceitful and dishonest means, the lawful functions of the IRS, a constituent agency of the United States Department of the Treasury, to ascertain, compute, assess, and collect federal income taxes," the court document states.

“Most individuals file truthful tax returns and pay their fair share of taxes. However, as alleged in today’s indictment, rather than living in reality and reporting their true income, Michael Sorrentino and his brother Marc created the illusion that they earned less income by filing false and fraudulent tax returns,” said Jonathan D. Larsen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, according to Forbes. “No matter what your occupation or status in life, if you attempt to cheat on your taxes for personal financial gain, you face real consequences including criminal prosecution and a possible prison sentence.”

Since his appearance in court, Sorrentino, who has not released an official statement, has been posting and retweeting quotes about facing obstacles on social media, including two from Joel Osteen. “What God started in your life He will finish,” reads one of the quotes from Osteen. “You may be in a difficult season but just keep on shining."

Sorrentino posted a quote on Instagram that reads, “develop from the negatives.”

If convicted, both Sorrentino brothers could face multiple years in prison in addition to sizable fines.