Co-owner of Beverly take-out place roasted for tax evasion; sentenced to two years in prison

Nicholas Koudanis, 67, of Topsfield, was sentenced today to two years in the federal pen after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by obstructing the IRS and ten counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns related to Nick's Famous Beef in Beverly, the US Attorney's office reports.

Co-owner Nicholas Markos, who pleaded guilty to the same charges, is scheduled for sentencing next month

According to prosecutors, the two men skimmed a total of $6 million over several years from the restaurant, stashing the cash away and not paying taxes on it. At one point, the feds charge, Markos and his wife Eleni had $1.6 million in cash in a safe in their home.

In addition to the prison time, Koudanis and his wife have to pay the IRS more than $2 million in back taxes and penalties. Their son, Steven, 40, was sentenced to one year of of home confinement and ordered to pay $151,240 to the IRS, after pleading guilty to one count of endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue Laws.