Cubs Rooftop Owner In The Dugout Over Misreported Earnings; Charges Filed

By Selena Fragassi in News on Mar 27, 2015 3:30PM

A rendering of the proposed sign in right field that has been a issue of contention between the Cubs and the rooftop club owners surrounding Wrigley Field. (Image provided by the Chicago Cubs)

Now here’s a curve ball. A rooftop owner who, just days ago, was in the news for seeking an injunction to stop the installation of a new video board at Wrigley Field citing blocked views and possible bankruptcy, is now indicted for withholding revenue from the team and the city. R. Marc Hamid, an attorney and owner of Skybox on Sheffield at 3627 N. Sheffield Ave. was charged today with under-reporting more than $1.5 million in profits from 2008 to 2011, which significantly altered the payment amounts he owed to the Cubs franchise under a contracted agreement and also his share of local taxes.

“In some instances, Hamid would alter or ask his employees to alter Skybox on Sheffield invoices to reflect a $0 total, as opposed to the hundreds or thousands of dollars the customers paid,” according to DNAinfo’s recap of the federal indictment that was filed Thursday. “He would also exceed the 200-person maximum capacity, but falsely stated the attendance figures in the annual royalty statements he was required to send to the Cubs, prosecutors said.” Officials are seeking $600,000 to be forfeited by Hamid, according to the Sun-Times.