DETROIT — On Friday, July 10, Happy Asker, the president and founder of the pizza chain Happy’s Pizza, was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay 2.5 million in restitution for tax fraud. 

Asker started Happy’s Pizza with a single store, which later grew to include 75 locations around the country.

Asker and four others, Tom Yaldo, Arkan Summa, Tagrid Bashi and Maher Bashi, underreported individual corporate income tax and payroll tax returns for most of the franchises.  The five then split the profit. 

“We wish the best for our founder, Mr. Asker,” said John Moran, president and CEO of Happy’s Pizza. “All of us at Happy’s Pizza are extremely grateful for his vision and hard work in growing the company from a single store to more than 75 franchise locations. Happy’s Pizza has instituted new accounting and management systems that made us a better company and we look forward to continued growth and success for years to come. We are most thankful for our customers, who love our quality pizza and other menu items and remain strongly loyal to Happy’s Pizza.”