Woody's owner indicted for tax fraud
by Jen Colletta
2 years ago | 3864 views | 17 17 comments | 26 26 recommendations | email to a friend | print
MICHAEL WEISS
MICHAEL WEISS
slideshow
The U.S. Attorney’s Office this week indicted Michael Weiss, the co-owner of Woody’s and the president of the board of Voyeur, on several counts of tax fraud, charging that he underreported more than $1.6 million in income from one of his other clubs.

Weiss was charged with two counts of filing false tax returns, two counts of aiding and abetting the preparation and filing of false tax returns and one count of corrupt endeavor to impede the due administration of the tax code, all in connection with his involvement with the Palmer Social Club, 601 Spring Garden St.

If convicted, Weiss could face up to nine years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000.

The grand-jury indictment, filed Jan. 26, is the culmination of a five-year investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.

Patricia Hartman, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, said Weiss has not been arrested but will self-report for his initial appearance at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in Courtroom 5-A, 601 Market St., before Hon. Jan E. Dubois.

Weiss did not return a call for comment.

The indictment focuses on 2004 and 2005, when Weiss served as the principal operating officer and manager of the Palmer Social Club and was responsible for the club’s finances.

Tom Bergstrom, an attorney for Weiss and the Palmer Social Club, said Weiss has not been directly involved with the club since 2002 or 2003, apart from supervising its books. When asked whether Weiss still oversees the club’s finances, Bergstrom said he’d “rather not go there for now.”

According to the indictment, a club employee collected all bar receipts and cash generated each night and recorded the transactions on a “tally sheet,” then delivered the sheet and the money to Weiss’ home in a garbage bag. Weiss allegedly then used accounting program Quicken to create two separate documents — one with the actual gross income from that night’s business and another with an underreported figure.

The indictment states that in 2004, Palmer Social Club brought in “approximately $1,411,373.55,” but the form 990, a tax form used by nonprofit organizations — which the club has been registered as since 1968 — reported a gross income of just $528,228, an understatement of $883,145.55. The indictment goes on to say that in 2005, Palmer had a gross income of $1,411,390.03, but only $641,409 was reported in that year’s 990, a difference of $768,981.03. Weiss signed both years’ 990s.

Bergstrom said he contests the allegations that Weiss created two separate documents for both years and also took issue with the numbers included in the indictment.

“We question the accuracy of the numbers that the government is alleging. We have a disagreement in terms of what they’re saying the gross receipts truly were,” he said.

Bergstrom added that the more-than $1-million profit the government says the club actually brought in each year is inaccurate.

“The Palmer Social Club is a nonprofit that is literally open only six hours a week — from midnight to 3 Friday and Saturday nights — so the numbers they’re reporting are just startling,” he said. “We’ll get there and work through it, but for right now, the issue is really the accuracy of those numbers.”

Voyeur also functions as a nonprofit social club under the name Mayfield Social Club, and Weiss and his brother Billy co-own the building that houses Voyeur. The brothers also co-own Woody’s, which they bought from previous owner Bill Wood in November 2006. The Weiss brothers previously owned Bump but sold the restaurant and bar — which has since been renamed Q — last summer.

Bergstrom said Weiss does the “bookkeeping and banking for a number of other entities that he, his brother or his father own,” but added he has “no reason” to believe the other properties are also being investigated.

Hartman said she could not comment on whether other businesses with which Weiss has been affiliated are being investigated or if other individuals could be implicated.

Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

Comments
(17)
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Phillyclubdude
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February 07, 2010
« FREDA FROMMER wrote on Tuesday, Feb 02 at 12:35 PM »

So I guess All of the crystal meth distribution from all of the DJ's will stop??????? THE WEISS'S ARE TYPICAL LOW CLASS JEWS ALL OUT FOR THEMSLEVES!

What part of this does not have anything to do with race/color/religion? "typical", "low class Jews"...ru from another planet u friggin racist moron!
Philaguy
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February 04, 2010
« FREDA FROMMER wrote on Tuesday, Feb 02 at 12:35 PM »

So I guess All of the crystal meth distribution from all of the DJ's will stop??????? THE WEISS'S ARE TYPICAL LOW CLASS JEWS ALL OUT FOR THEMSLEVES!

What does this have anything to do with race/color/religon? What are you a NAZI? You and Hilter share the same mentality don't you? Sounds like to me you are one white poor Jelous Nazi without a brain. Get off your ass and take your Nazi comments else where. People like you started with Jews, Gays and Blacks.
Bill Chance
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February 03, 2010
Myself and my lover Mike are daily customers at Woody's

We know the Wise family, and we find them to be good people

This is still america

You are still are innoscent untill proven guilty

See you all at Woody's for a drink tommorrow
Wilhelm Francis
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February 02, 2010
Are negative comments about race/religion really necessary? It's rather inappropriate & offensive.
FREDA FROMMER
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February 02, 2010
So I guess All of the crystal meth distribution from all of the DJ's will stop??????? THE WEISS'S ARE TYPICAL LOW CLASS JEWS ALL OUT FOR THEMSLEVES!
SLIPPERY SLIP
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February 01, 2010
It only took a few short years to run the Philadelphia Gay scene into the Shitter. The real Woody would have neer been involved in such sloppy stuff! What abut all of the drug dealings that go on in his clubs??????
Josh P
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January 31, 2010
All these people are corrupt. Thats why I wont donate to any of them.
Uncle
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January 30, 2010
Does the owner of Woody's still require new bartenders to sleep with him in order to get a good shift?
Queer Questioning
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January 30, 2010
Knew Mike had police department in his pocket with huge conflict of interest serving on both LGBT Police Advisory Commission and LGBT Police Liaison Committee. He was there "protecting" business interest, not LGBT citizens. Truth prevails and also sad so many Executive Directors of LGBT or HIV/AIDS Service Organizations are greedy and caught with their hands in the pot. PLOPWA - People Living Off People with AIDS and PLOQP - People Living Off Queer People. Mazzoni ring a bell?
Tsk-tsk
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January 29, 2010
Don't they also own clubs in San Diego, CA? It's amazing how people have not yet learned that the IRS does not screw around when they think you've cheated them out of money. Not sure which is worse, the IRS or a pissed off wife. Both can make life a living hell for a very long time.

Maybe the "old" Woody's will be reborn and it will be a decent place with decent drinks, decent staff, decent prices and, oh yeah, decent music!
TDE
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January 28, 2010
Karma :)
Madame D.
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January 28, 2010
Bergstrom's public profession that there is "no reason" to believe other properties are being investigated is spurious and strictly absurd. Perhaps this testimonial--along with the "hey, he's not involved with clubs, he just handles the money" argument--can find a way into one of those garbage bags.

All other properties assuredly should be investigated, promptly. In fact, the the PA Liquor Control Enforcement (LCE) has a definitive duty to investigate the remaining Weiss clubs for illegal activities.

Karmic Revenge
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January 28, 2010
Nice shot of MIkey....I can just see him in a short shorts and pig tails be topped by 4 men in prison....but he might actually like that. May Bill Wood can offer them 100k to buy Woody's back and return it to a place where people get a decent drink are a treated right. I am sure Mike and Billy can use the money for dope and defense. You know their dealers aren't going to help. Hell....Maybe they can Hire Phoenix to represent them in court....it would be FIERCE BITCH.....FIERCE
Wachovia Banks
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January 28, 2010
Sorry to inform you that you DO NOT have sufficent funds to properly plead your case.

Thanks for your service & have a great day.
Goldstein & Assoc.
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January 28, 2010
We cannot dig up Johnny Cochran for your defense so we advise a plea bargain.

IE.Pin it on management!
CourtRoom No.A1
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January 28, 2010
We the Jury Find Micheal & William Weiss Guilty on all counts. Sentencing will be postponed until further investigation into other business'are finished.

We also find Tre Rios guilty on felony fraud & altering federal documentation. Sentencing postponed until further investigation.

We also find Nate guilty on felony impersonation of a public official & distribution of narcotics.

We also find Deborah guilty of felony stupidity.

We also find Muhammed guilty of felony fraud & altering federal documentation. Sentencing postponed unitl further investigation.

All parties are to be remanded to the custody of the county.
Alice N GayborLand
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January 28, 2010
I guess we'll find out how deep the rabbit hole really goes. Except when these guys sober up it'll be three hots & a cot. At least their names will live on in a true urban legend of what NOT to do ! So the two little pigs got their house blown down by the big bad wolf of the IRS & Oh yeah let's not forget, "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead". Lol