A source has revealed that Representative Michael Grimm of Staten Island has been charged with a 20-count indictment as he evaded paying tax by hiding around US$1 million income and wages in a Manhattan restaurant he has co-owned and that he will be pleading guilty about the charges on Tuesday.

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However, reports suggest that if he escapes being convicted, he is still expected to keep his position. Although critics are saying that admitting the tax evasion charges will make his congressional seat be in danger.

Grimm has just won the seat by a sweeping margin last November 4 and now seven weeks after, he is already scheduled to enter his plea on Tuesday before Judge Pamela Chen of the Brooklyn Federal Court. He has beaten Democrat Dominic Recchia. 

Although the criminal case was the main issue of the campaign of Recchia, Grimm still won with 55 percent of the votes as compared to Recchia's 42. In a debate last October 17, Recchia also asked Grimm if he was found guilty of the charges against him, will Grimm be resigning from his post. Grimm pointed out that he would because if he will not be able to serve his people, he would step aside for a special election.

The charges were already released last April and it also included hiring undocumented immigrants. He has also served the Marines and worked as an FBI Agent before being in the politics. He first pleaded not guilty and the trial will begin on February 2015.

Under the federal law, Grimm might face around three years of jail time on his tax evasion charges but since he will be convicted, in case, for the first time, he will not be serving time behind bars and it will be up to Chen what the sentences will be.

Sources are also saying that Grimm not being convicted and may not want to resign from his position would result to House Speaker Republican John Boehner of Ohio to step in and decide whether or not to force him to step down. 

TagsMichael Grimm, tax evasion charges, staten island, to plead guilty, Congress