Three brothers – Leland, Rhondo and Joseph Robinson Jr. – pleaded guilty today to tax evasion in federal court in Newark, New Jersey.
The trio, whose family started Sugar Hill Records in the 1970s, admitted that they did not file returns from 2005-08 that would have declared royalties from their owning of Sugar Hill Music. They would have paid $1.28 million in taxes, and now owe interest and penalties.
Rhondo (41), Leland (46) and Joseph Jr. (50) face a year in prison on each count. “Joseph Robinson Jr. is making every effort to comply with his past and present tax obligations and hopes the judge will consider his efforts at sentencing,” said his attorney Henry Klingeman. “They’ve been concentrating on protecting their current musical legacy instead of fulfilling their tax obligations.”
The brothers have been involved in the label’s music publishing and received payments as copyright administrators.
HipHopDX will keep you updated as more information comes to light.
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THATS WHAT THE FUCK THEY GET FOR FUCKIN ALL THEM RAPPERS OVER THAT WERE ON THAT LABEL. KARMA AND PAYBACK IS A BITCH!!!
Just a side note: The original Master Gee and Wonder Mike are no longer with the Sugarhill Gang. Only Big Bank Hank is still part of the official lineup. A big part of this is the ongoing dispute over royalties. Joseph/Joey has been performing with Hank and another substitute player.
The original Mike and Gee have performed several shows with Grandmaster Caz, who wrote Hank’s parts on the sugarhill recordings.. the beef is squashed on their part, but Hank still has not stepped up..