Shore pizzeria owners plead not guilty to tax evasion

The husband-and-wife owners of Ocean City's popular Manco & Manco pizzerias pleaded not guilty in a tax evasion case Monday.

Charles Bangle, 54, and his wife, Mary, 53, are accused of concealing $981,000 in income from the IRS and using the proceeds for personal expenses.

They were arrested the morning of April 3 by IRS investigators and released that day after appearing in federal court in Camden.

During that hearing, a judge ordered the two to give up their passports, and Charles Bangle to hand over weapons that included 12 handguns, two shotguns, and two rifles.

Approached outside Monday's hearing, they declined to speak with a reporter.

Their restaurant chain - known as Mack & Manco until Jan. 1, 2012 - dates to 1956 and has three locations on Ocean City's boardwalk and one in Somers Point.

Charles and Mary Bangle were employees of Mack & Manco until they purchased a controlling interest in 2011.

The Bangles face 30 counts, including conspiracy to evade income taxes, income tax evasion from 2007 through 2011, and making false statements to the IRS. Charles Bangle also is charged with structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements.

856-779-3829 @borenmc

Inquirer staff writers Barbara Boyer and Amy S. Rosenberg contributed to this article.