This sentencing emphasizes that all employers, big and small, have equal responsibility to collect, report, and pay over their payroll taxes.”Īs an employer, Hankerson’s companies were required to withhold from employees’ gross pay Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) taxes, which represent Social Security and Medicare taxes, and federal income taxes. “Paying taxes is a way to give back to the community, but unfortunately Hankerson chose to use those funds for other means. “While ownership of a well-known restaurant in our community has its perks, it also comes with great responsibility,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Employers who fail to comply with their legal obligations will be held accountable.” “Payroll taxes fund social insurance programs, including Social Security and Medicare, and are a large source of revenue for the federal government. “Hankerson willfully disregarded his tax obligations for many years,” said Acting U.S. But, he didn’t do it and now he’s paying the price for it. More on that in a few.Īs part of being the boss of the popular restaurants, he was required to withhold payroll taxes from his employees’ gross pay. However, ish started to hit the fan in 2016. Over the next several years, he ended up opening at least three more locations in Georgia and Washington D.C. Previously, Shanga owned four locations of Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles in Georgia and Washington DC.Īccording to court documents, Shanga opened his first restaurant, Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles, in Atlanta in 1997. Details inside…Īfter a bizarre saga involving Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles restaurants, the legendary singer’s son, Shanga Hankerson, 45, has been sentenced to serve two years in prison after he failed to withhold payroll taxes for his restaurants. In 2001, Knight married William McDowell.Gladys Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, 45, has been sentenced to two years in prison after he failed to withhold payroll taxes for his Chicken & Waffles restaurants. until his death from heart failure in July 1999. Her son Jimmy Newman worked in his Newman Management Inc. The issue lasted for more than a decade and finally ended in the 1980s when she lost $60,000 in a single night. She was trapped in a miserable condition when she had a gambling addiction. She tied the knot to motivational speaker Les Brown in 1995 but the couple divorced and separated after two years of marriage. They had a prolonged custody battle for their only child. The couple welcomed their son, Shanga Hankerson but the couple divorced in 1979. Knight married Blackground Records founder and producer Barry Hankerson in 1974. The couple divorced in 1973 and he died few years later their separation. Newman became a drug addict and he abandoned his family when she was just 20. She had a miscarriage but the couple shares two children James Newman III and Kenya Newman. She married musician James 'Jimmy' Newman in 1960. Knight has been married four times in total. Knight has an estimated net worth of about $28 million at present. She is also listed on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. She received seven Grammy Awards in total. She was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with The Pips. Her singles 'That's What Friends Are For' and 'Midnight Train to Georgia' peaked at number one in the Billboard Hot 100. She worked with her brother Merald 'Bubba' Knight and her cousins William Guest and Edward Patten. Knight is renowned for her records during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s for the Motown and Buddah Records labels. Her brother named David Knight died at an early age. She has a sister named Brenda Knight and a brother named Merald Knight Jr. Gladys Knight was born on in Atlanta, Georgia to Sarah Elizabeth and Merald Woodlow Knight Sr.

Finally, for the fourth time, Knight married her husband, William McDowell. Knight married motivational speaker Les Brown in 1995, but they separated and divorced in 1997. The couple had one son and divorced in 1981. In 1974, Knight married producer and Blackground Records founder Barry Hankerson, who is the uncle of the late R&B singer Aaliyah, in Detroit. She retired from the road to raise their child while the Pips toured on their own. At first, she married her high school sweetheart, James Newman. Knight has been married four times and has three children.

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