Lovers of baseball can enjoy a Chicago Cubs game from the seats of Wrigley Field or from the rooftops outside the field that surround the outfield. These skyboxes offer seats, drinks, and food for a deal—and give great views inside Wrigley Field. In 2004, the Chicago rooftops and the Chicago Cubs reached an agreement that guarantees a 17 percent of gross revenue to the Cubs. While these skyboxes seem ideal, the Cubs have long complained that rooftop boxes take money away from the Cubs.
The complaints and criticisms of the Cubs proved true. On March 25, 2016, federal prosecutors brought criminal fraud charges against Marc Hamid., a part-owner of Skybox on Sheffield. The prosecutors announced that Hamid hid more than $1.5 million in revenue. From this revenue, Hamid avoided paying the Cubs $600,000 and state and local taxes. According to the attorneys for Skybox, Hamid was “relieved of all duties and responsibilities” after the original indictment.
On July 6, 2016, the Skybox’s accountant, Joseph Gurdak, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing a false tax return. He is hoping to see his potentially 23 year sentence be reduced to as little as 30 months by cooperating in the federal prosecutor’s case against Hamid. Gurdak admitted to assisting Hamid steal the money from the Chicago Cubs. Gurdak confessed to filing false royalty statements with the Cubs, underreporting attendance, from 2007-2015.
Gurdak is not the only participant in the fraud scheme looking to make a deal to help strengthen the case against Hamid. On July 5, Richard Zasiebida, a former suburban cop, admitted to dodging approximately $140,000 in federal taxes in connection to Hamid’s fraud scheme. His sentencing hearing (and Gurdak’s) will occur after the Hamid’s trial, and the judge will take into account the witness cooperation.
The trial against Hamid is set to begin on July 11, 2016.