April 03--The former owner of a rooftop business across from Wrigley Field pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal fraud charges alleging he hid more than $1.5 million in revenue to avoid paying the team as well as sales and amusement taxes.
R. Marc Hamid, 46, who was co-owner of Skybox on Sheffield, entered his plea in a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, who ordered him released on a bond secured by his mother's home in Lincolnwood.
Hamid, a nonpracticing attorney who also operates a ticket brokerage near the ballpark, was indicted last week on four counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Hamid underreported attendance and revenue from 2008 to 2011, then submitted false sales tax returns to the state of Illinois and amusement tax returns to Cook County and the city of Chicago for those years.
The phony numbers allowed Hamid to avoid paying more than $600,000 in royalty payments to the Cubs as well as state and local taxes, prosecutors said. Hamid diverted revenue to his other businesses, including Just Great Tickets and Just Great Seats, "in order to conceal some of the rooftop revenues from the Cubs and others," according to the charges. He also allegedly used some of the unreported money for personal and business expenses.
Skybox on Sheffield is one of two rooftops that accused the Cubs in a federal lawsuit of violating a contract struck a decade ago with the team's plan to erect a 2,250-square-foot right field video board and other signs. The rooftop owners claimed the video board and signs will block views that allow their businesses to operate. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall denied their request to order the Cubs to halt construction of the signs while the suit is pending.
Edward A. McCarthy, an investor in Skybox on Sheffield, released a statement Saturday saying Hamid was "terminated and relieved of all duties and responsibilities at Skybox."
Hamid's attorney, Chris Gair, told the judge Thursday his client "has known for 15 months he was going to be indicted" and that prosecutors were punishing him for refusing to cooperate.
jmeisner@tribpub.com
