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Rep. Michael Grimm to Plead Guilty to Tax-Evasion Charge, Sources Say

By  Nicholas Rizzi and Murray Weiss | December 22, 2014 5:45pm 

 Rep. Michael Grimm will reportedly plead guilty to a felony count of tax evasion on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014.
Rep. Michael Grimm will reportedly plead guilty to a felony count of tax evasion on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014.
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DNAinfo/Nicholas Rizzi

STATEN ISLAND — Rep. Michael Grimm will plead guilty to felony tax evasion on Tuesday for hiding profits at a Manhattan restaurant he co-owned, sources said.

Grimm, who was reelected in November, is expected to enter a plea in Brooklyn Federal Court on the charge, which can carry a three-year prison sentence, the New York Daily News first reported.

A criminal cause for pleading hearing has been set for Grimm's case set for 1 p.m. Tuesday in Brooklyn, records show.

In April, Grimm was hit was a 20-count indictment after federal authorities said he hid more than $1 million in profits from his Upper East Side eatery Healthalicious between June 2007 and August 2010.

Grimm pleaded not guilty to all charges and after the indictment accused prosecutors of going on a "political witch hunt" against him.

Despite the charges, Grimm still beat challenger Dominic Recchia to hold on to his Staten Island congressional seat in November, winning by his widest margin in three elections.

Grimm repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he would step down from his post if found guilty and a special election would be held to fill his seat.

Now, if he avoids a prison sentence, Grimm will try to argue he can continue to serve in the House even with the guilty plea, the Daily News reported.

Lawyers and a spokesman for Grimm did not respond to requests for comment.