Founder of Yoga to the People, Gregory Gumucio, potentially faces up to five years in prison for offering affordable yoga classes in a bohemian setting.
Yoga to the People, a popular chain of yoga studios founded by Gregory Gumucio, recently made headlines when Gumucio pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion after failing to file tax returns or pay income taxes for over eight years. Gumucio, who earned over $3.5 million between 2012 and 2020, faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the IRS.
The U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Damian Williams, emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for tax evasion, stating that despite Yoga to the People’s success, Gumucio chose to evade his tax obligations for nearly a decade.
Yoga to the People started as a small studio in the East Village in 2006, offering a pay-what-you-can model and attracting well-known instructors like Hilaria Baldwin and Sofia Kristina Hellqvist. However, the studio’s glamorous image was overshadowed by Gumucio’s financial misconduct.
In court, Gumucio, 63, expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged his failure to pay taxes. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of tax evasion and the importance of fulfilling financial obligations.
Source: The NY Times
