: MIAMI (AFP) — A US federal judge on Thursday sentenced Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes to three years in prison Thursday for failing to file his tax returns from 1999 to 2004, the Department of Justice announced.
The Florida-based judge laid down the harshest possible sentence against Snipes, star of such movies as "Demolition Man" and the "Blade" trilogy of vampire movies, who was found guilty by a jury in February on three misdemeanor charges.
Snipes, 45, had sought to evade paying more than 15 million dollars in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), according to the department.
"Snipes' long prison sentence should send a loud and crystal clear message to all tax defiers that if they engage in similar tax defier conduct, they face joining him and his co-defendants ... as inmates in prison," said Nathan Hochman, an official at the US Department of Justice Tax Division.
"The law is very clear: people must pay their taxes," added IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman. "There is no secret formula that eliminates a person's tax obligations, nor are there any special exceptions."
The action hero first rose to fame in the 1980s when he was cast in the video for Michael Jackson's single "Bad".
That proved to be the springboard for a successful acting career characterized by his portrayal of tough-guy characters in movies such as "Demolition Man" and "New Jack City."
A martial arts fanatic, Snipes is famous for inserting quotations from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" into his characters' roles.
Snipes also starred in "White Men Can't Jump" and Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever."
And, what I don't get iz why the government makes "examples" out of people....that is some straight up *** and they know that's not the reason they gave him that sentencing. If it is, I really don't see why one person out of thousands that have done the same thing (not filing taxes) has to be punished like that....lol, sounds like Celeb Discrimination!
THERE IS NO LAW THAT SAYS YOU MUST PAY TAXES. There is a law that says if you DON'T pay the federal government has a right to lien your property, garnish wages, or imprison you to get payment. IRS and the tax code is actually unconstitutional. Research the whole reason behind how this country was formed (anger over taxes from King of England and control of our currency)and when and how these tax codes, not laws, were written. Wesley was not wrong, but they don't want everybody gettin' outta line so they make examples to make sure we all file every year.
This is my second time saying this today...but the judicial system sucks and is a$$ backwards sometimes...yeah yeah yeah I know a crime is a crime and not paying your taxes is a crime, but how in the hell is it that Kellz *** on and f*cked little girls and will possibly get just probation and he Snipes gets 3yrs for not paying taxes...that sh*t is crazy to me...But I still wish him the best!!!!!!
Now i'm not hating but his *** should have gotten 5/7 years because if it was one of us regular folks believe me they would have thrown the book at us. I don't understand how all of these people making millions won't pay their taxes and think they can get away with it, i guess his Blade moves will pay off in jail.
Dang Wes, you couldn't find someone to get those W-2s straighten out? You know that Uncle Sam don't play with his money. He is the biggest hustla in the world, you ain't gonna *** change that man. Funny thing is that he had Denzel write a letter to the judge to be easy on him. That didnt get him anywhere but playin basketball in Pelican Bay.....shoe program.
Shawn...do your homework. The IRS/Feds put EVERYONE away who steals from them. Look up Joe Francis (Girls Gone Wild) for example. This is not a Black/White thing...it's an egregious ignorance thing.
Know the difference.
Joe Francis CUT A DEAL and got out after 11 months. Wesley went to trial and lost...the sentences are always stiffer that way. He probably would've gotten a similar deal but he rolled the dice and lost.
@ Mrmokelly, that's exactly right....The IRS will take down ANYONE..black/white or otherwise...The lesson keeps coming up over and over...you DO NOT mess with the feds!
@ sexe757, you hit the nail on the head as to why some people are hatin' on him...You knew he would end up doing time, but I think the max was a little extreme given that he doesnt seem to have a prior history of criminal activity.
I don't know why they didn't just confiscate his sh!t! Call me a belly rubber but I don't feel like 3 years in jail is the answer. But as we all know this great country of ours was founded by thieves and criminals that were kicked out another country. Uncle Sam will get his whether you're dead or alive! B@***!
NAS IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, YOU *** ARE N*GGERS FOREAL. FUGG THE IRS IT STANDS FOR INTERNALLY RAPING SUCKAS AND US BEING THE SUCKAS. THESE *** DON'T MAKE OUT OF COUNTRY *** PAY TAXES FOR SEVEN YEARS AND WHERE IN THE FUGG DOES ALL THIS MONEY GO ANYWAY? WESLEY SNIPES IS ABSOLUTELY FUGGIN RIGHT AND I DON'T CARE HOW MANY OF YOU COON *** N*GGAS DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE BUT AIN'T NONE OF US SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING NO FUGGIN TAXES. TAXES FOR WHAT? WHAT IN THE FUGG ARE THEY DOING WITH ALL THIS FUGGIN SO CALLED TAX MONEY? THEY *** SHOLE DIDN'T USE IT TO HELP HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS SO FUGG THE IRS AND FUGG SOME *** TAXES. FREE WESLEY SNIPES YOU PHAGGIT *** ***.
FUGG THE IRS AND EVERY PHAGGIT THAT WORKS FOR THEM ***. THEM *** AIN'T DOING SH*T BUT SUCKIN THE LIFE OUT OF US DUMB *** CITIZENS. PAYING TAXES ISN'T EVEN LEGAL PUT IT'S SO MUCH RED TAPE FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT IT'S A HARD CASE TO FIGHT AND WIN. WESLEY SNIPES KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE FUGG HE'S TALKIN ABOUT. IT SHOULD BE NO FUGGIN SURPRISE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL FUGG YOU AND IF IT IS A SURPRISE THEN YOU'RE A STUPID *** WHO AIN'T EVEN WORTH EXPLAINING THE SH*T TO ANYWAY.
This brother is going to prison for 3 years over 3 MISDEMEANORS? Most of us wouldn't get 3 weeks nevermind 3 years. You hating sellout *** *** *** disgust me. Being happy a brother is doing that kinda time for somethin like that. If he dates white or asian women so what, get your nose out of his crotch sniffin, what are you jealous? As far as his kids go you don't know that *** from a can of paint you don;t what he does for his kids so keep your *** mouth ***. For those who feel for this brother keep it up, support this brotha and *** the hatin *** crab sell out ***.
WESLEY IS GETTING 3 YEARS FOR RUNNING AND HIDING IN AFRICA AND FOR CRYING RACISM THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL...HE *** THEM OFF...THAT IS WHY HE GOT THE MAX...
BUT I AGREE, IT SICKENS ME TO KNOW R.KELLY PERVERT *** IS STILL WALKING THE STREETS...I WANT THAT BYTCH TO GO TO PRISON AND NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY EVER AGAIN!!!
If you don't break the law, you don't have to have "complaints" or "discussions" about whether a sentence was supposedly fair or not.
It's not that hard to understand. Never put your life into the hands of the criminal justice system.
The sooner we as Black folks learn that, the easier this country becomes.
It's foolish to sit around and complain about a sentence when there's really no argument as to whether he's guilty or not.
He's fortunate to have beaten the federal charges in the first place.
If he paid his taxes, he wouldn't have been in this position in the first place crying "foul."
It's like complaining about how you got popped for crack and White folks got popped for cocaine.
It's just more sensible to leave the drugs alone altogether and not complain about the sentencing disparity.
Lawful is always a better option than lawless.
Wesley let all that fame amd fortune go to his head. He forgot where he came from. In the White man's world in America no matter how rich you are as a Black man, you still a nicca. Wesley was a *** *** who I do not feel sorry for. Going around busting Halle's ear drum. God don't like ugly and he ain't crazy about pretty. This nicca just reaped what he sow. That is what he get for not dating Black women with his Black azz. He had the nerve to say it, too, in an interview I think with Essence or Ebony magazine. Don't drop the soap Wes. In prison, you are just a number. Holla!!
He did something wrong, he pays the penalty - simple as. Actions have consequences - and he was not ignorant to them.
As for the black/white thing, any black person who thinks the rules don't apply to them/ their actions don't have consequences are ignorant, despicable individuals and are the problem with some in our community. They continue to make the law abiding majority look bad, instead of making excuses for them - we need to condemn them and showing them up for what they really are.
So see you in 2011 snipes, don't think we'll miss you - you haven't put anything decent out for a while, so I think we'll cope.
@mrmokelly
If you don't break the law, you don't have to have "complaints" or "discussions" about whether a sentence was supposedly fair or not. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You would be 100% correct if you can produce the actual law in the constitution in writing.
There isn't any.
Our dear Pres stated that the constitution is "Nothing but a G-D- piece of paper" This is why they can choose which laws to enforce.
Mr Snipes only crime was believing in a paper that no one has upheld since it was developed.
This is the same paper that states Slaves of the African Diaspora are 3/5 human. And this still hasn't been overturned. The amendment deeming us free people hasn't been ratified. So Mr. Snipes or anyone of African Diaspora do not have the total "rights" of other American citizens according to the powers that be. (site the Dread Scott Case)
It's sad to see anyone get taken away from their family based on an erronious decision. That's a crime.
But, yes he could have went on being extorted and kept quiet like most of us do and will continue to do. He rolled the dice and stood up. I give him credit for that but "when you live in Rome you must pay Ceaser". (Bill O'Riley's words)
The Matrix is real. Take the Green pill Mrmokelly.
I went to youtube and looked up michael jackson's I'm Bad video and watched it. I still can't tell which one of those guys is Wesley Snipes.
@ jonas it's not just Wesley who's going to jail for not filing....there's a lot of r&b singers who's gone through the same thing and it's still some going through it now they just haven't been caught yet. Let's not forget about Mr. Biggs, and there were a few more people, but also what about these male celebrities not paying child support, I'm glad they only gave him 3 yrs. because true enough that was some cheap a$$ ish' he pulled. Inspite of him being the cause of Halle being deaf in one of her ears, I lubb me some Wesley Snipes.....
lol halle is deaf in one hear how.. ELABORATE.. @house of beauty.. neva heard that *** before.. lemme google it.
On to the subject at hand: THE MESSAGE THEY ARE SENDING IS.. M.O.E. Have *** with a minor.. pee on the kid on tape..Then marry some one 12years younger than u... get no jail time... Forget to give us our money get 3 years..Even though honestly all they have to do is moniter the man and make sure he actually does his taxes correctly... lets give him 3yrs.. priorities *** what r yours?... TERRIBLE.. this is the contry we live in... i love it.
Two things I fear in life God and the IRS.
Normally I would rally behind a brotha but one how stupid can you be not paying your taxes? Two he made some ill comments about black women so *** him. I wonder if his lil ming li gonna stick and wait for him while he in jail? Yeah right her and her family about to rack up on LV material and make a killing.
See YA!
I dont know how these entertainers dont have a good CPA on their team. There is no way you should be bringing in that kind of money and not have someone looking out and making sure your taxes get paid! He needs to go to jail just for being dumb!!! Side point - he is so ugly, I never knew what women saw in him!! ILK!!!
Its really not about the "paying" of the taxes...Wesley evaded (avoided) the IRS by not filing from 90 to 94. Anywho, he's going to a country club white collar crime facility where they do not have bars. He should be out in about 9 to 18 months. I'm sure that his legal team will try to get him shock probation. I doubt if that move will work though.
Bottom line, the judge wanted to make a 'zampa' <example> outta Wesley!
well, well, well what a hard lesson and he still has to pay! BTW --- he wrote a cheque to the IRS for 5 million yesterday!
Wesley says he realizes that there are Black women still who get an attitude about Black men with Asian, White or Hispanic women. "I know we've all been hurt, and we're all very wounded," he says, addressing Black women. "We have to acknowledge that, both male and female, in the Black experience. We're a wounded people. And we want to possess and we want to own. We don't want to compromise. We feel like we've compromised enough. But in any relationship you have to compromise. There's no way around it. And I say to Black women also, Brothers who are very, very successful, or who have become somewhat successful, usually it's been at a great expense, unseen by the camera's eye....
"He doesn't want to come home to someone who's going to be mean and aggravating and unkind and who is going to be `please me, please me.' He doesn't want to come home to that. He doesn't want to come home to have a fight with someone who is supposed to be his helpmate. So it's very natural that he's going to turn to some place that's more compassionate.... You've worked hard and you deserve to come home to comforting. And usually a man who has that will appreciate it. Because I've never known one cat, all those cats I've hung out with and still hang out with, who found something that they really, really like and didn't go back to it. They all go back. It's very simple."
Quote from Wesley Snipes himself...
Sexe757 and others who are focusing on the Black women (AGAIN) read the above. Wesley made it a point to talk *** about Black women's attitudes being the reason why he is with non Black women...I hope you also accuse him of 'bringing Blacks down' and not be bias...lmao, but somehow I feel you WON'T.
@ mrmokelly
YOU SOUND LIKE SUCH AN ***. HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY OR FINE WITH A PERSON GETTING THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR A VICTIMLESS CRIME. HE DIDN'T HURT ANYONE....BUT YOU GOT T.I. GETTING A LIGHT SENTENCE AND THIS DUDE WAS ABOUT TO GO TO WAR BUYING HEAVY FIREARMS...THEN YOU GOT R.KELLY A *** OFFENDER USING THE BATHROOM ON A *** AND CAUGHT ON TAPE AND IS WORKING A DEAL FOR ANOTHER LIGHT SENTENCE. THAT IS SO RACIST POSTS SAYING HE SHOULD GET THIS TIME CAUSE OF WHO HE CHOOSES TO ***.PLEASE AND ALSO YOU ARE SPEAKING ON DRUG CASES WITH THE FEDS...YES DRUG DEALING AIN'T COOL BUT WHY IS THERE SUCH A DISPARITY BETWEEN CRACK AND COCAINE WHEN THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS A LITTLE BAKING SODA. SO SPEAK ON WHAT YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IS WHITES USE COCAINE AND BLACKS FAVOR CRACK. THE FEDS IS A JOKE YOU SHOULD RESEARCH THAT INSTEAD OF MAKING IGNORANT COMMENTS FOR YOUR "BLOG" TELL ME WHY THEY DONT NEED EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU WHY CAN A PERSON SAY THEY SEEN YOU DO SOMETHING AND YOUR *** IS BURNT. THE REASON WHY IS THEY CONTROL EVERYTHING SO FAR YOUR MONEY AND YOUR LIFE.
MrMoKelly while I completely understand your logic I'll have to disagree. Just think if our ancestors never rebelled against slavery we would probably still be under bondage. If our people didn't stand up and speak out against segregation and so many more injustices they would still be occuring. And correct me if I am wrong but I believe these were laws too. I have been studying this situation for some time now and I agree with what Wesley was trying to do. While many of MTO readers believes he was doing it for selfish reason, he really was doing it for the greater good of all of us. But ignorance is bliss and WE are too lazy to look into ourselves before we give our opinions or assessments. AMERICA WAKE UP! We are all being duped and ***. There truly isn't a law that says we have to pay taxes. There are even ex-IRS agents who are fighting for the same cause as Wesley. Ex-IRS agents! What our public is not be completely aware of is that IF Wesley had won his case it would have set new precedents for others to base their cases on in order to make them stronger--and their have been sucessful cases. DO THE RESEARCH. The IRS is making and example out of him because of his public platform not because of his race or gender. It's meant to scare us all.
Why is he, a first time offender, getting 3 years for tax evasion when convicted felon T.I. only gets
why is he, a first time offender, getting 3 years for tax evasion when convicted felon T.I. only gets 1 year for six counts of posession of illegal and unregistered machine guns (3), pistols(1) and sound suppressors(2)?
Does this sound a bit lopsided to anyone else?
@Caramelhoneys
If you dont pay taxes, who will pay for the schools we like to send our kids to, teachers to teach those kids, fire fighters to get our butts out of a burning house, those pesky police who try stop people from killing each other, the road workers keeping the streets that we like to drive on in repair, our military to stop other countries from invading, etc etc etc. maybe we can just take up a donation to pay for it all
I don't care what they do to Wesley..he had the money, he should have taken care of business..he just gave the IRS a check for 5 million..he should have gave it to them when thsy asked for it..and for disrespecting Black women..yeah he said it..we don't care if he dates a monkey, but why he got to say all that mess about Black women to the media..did he forget, his mother's a Black woman..he should have kept his mouth closed and took care of his business..brotha my azz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is some straight up BS!!!
I can think of two celebs that neglected to pay their taxes, Willy Nelson (Country musician) and Red Foxx (Comedian). Neither individual served time, their assest were liquidated.
My ex-husband owes 25G in back child support, he hasn't filed his taxes in over three years and no one has prosecuted that A$$. Oh, maybe if he owed over 15 Million then something would be done. The double standards are straight up ***.
u ***..ers kill me, yall see four white [EXPLETIVE] get acquitted of murder, after they bust of 50 *** to kill sean bell when they thought he had a weapon but didnt, and then yall come on here dogging this *** wesley snipes cuz he aint pay taxes and now he gotta go to jail, what a coincidence, another black, i mean i less ***, i mean two less *** in the white mans world. And they say we dont stick together yall make me sick to my stomach to think yall can come on here and make a comment about the man getting time for not payin some *** taxes..yall are *** pathetic man.
@KIM KELMOR either you are white or u are just plain ol stupid, you list all those black folks in jail like you got light blue eyes and and your name is george bush...u are a *** hypocrite..i pray that you are not black cuz u are a disgrace...i dont even care what color a person is if they gotta do time, i pray for them cuz its not a game to be confined in a place like that on top of it to be black, how can someone like snipes get time for his first offense..u r so *** stupid, go sit somewhere so i can dump my brown dudu on ur face u idiot.
@BRONX BOMBSHELL 216 I FEEL YOU!! TALK TO EM!
***! I'm still swayed about this. I do believe the punishment should fit the crime but dammit 3 years??
I knew they were gonna make a SERIOUS example out of him, when the issue first came about. Of all places to hold the trial, it was in the predominately white town of Ocala, FL (I think). I knew right there *** would go downhill for Wesley.
Now he's just another statistic, another black male in jail.
@BENNIFER- Sorry i overlooked that fact, it was just a reaction cuz 9/10 it would have been, but needless to say the justice system still has the face of the WHITE MAN so go figure
@KIMKEL "HORE"
U r right i dont know you, but i do know this, u allow ur small mind to be hypnotized by the propaganda this world feeds you and you think you are bad to the bone cuz u stand by it.GO EAT ***! im not going to get all gutter on the pc but i sure hope u r never in a situation where your life depends on an american jury cuz honeslty if you had to go to jail, my heart and prayers would go out to you, EVEN if you are a *** black bytch with no brain!
@HOUSE OF BEAUTY- ur right it is friday, and i will enjoy it cuz besides the ill state this world is in im happy wit mines..have a reat weekend!
@KIM KELMORE *** u had to take it to the momma,lol its all good though cuz i got on here and i read this and was furious and came at you out of anger, it may not strike you as hard cuz life's experiences alter your perception of stuff, so thats why it got under my skin a bit when u spoke so lightly of people being in jail, but u r entitled to ur opinion, and im doing real fine in my life now so i choose to squashallbeefs, have a good weekend!
@MrMoKelly- I TOTALLY agree with you. Being a law abiding citizen is the best way to go. Now there are some unfortunate innocent people that have been vitimized by the system; but we as a people have to stop playing the race card all the time. That gets old.
If you do the time, you pay the crime...simple as that.
some of yall mofos is trippin yall actually WANT the man to go to prison? and for what over some fuggin taxes? taxes ain't nothing but a ganster move just like the hood kingpins and gangs tax the block i can see if uncle sam does sh** with it but where the fugg do the money go? they tax us for taking out of our 401k's and it suppose to be OUR fuggin money and yal cheering this sh*t on? FUGG OUTTA HERE!!!! FRE MIKE VICK AND WESLEY SNIPES AND JAIL THOSE NYPD COPS!!!!
...TRUST...THEY'D RATHER *** WESLEY DOWN IN A BARRAGE OF 51 ***, BUT THEY'D PROBABLY WOULDN'T "GET OFF" THAT EASY...SO WHAT DO THESE SICK TWISTED NO-GOOD RACIST *** DO INSTEAD? THEY *** AN "UNKNOWN" GROOM-TO-BE ON HIS WEDDING DAY, WHERE IT'S GETTING TO BE QUITE EASY TO BEAT THE NOT SO SERIOUS CHARGES ANYMORE!!!
LYoung prolly went to the same accounting school that Wesley Snipe's accountant did.
Obviously technicality is moot when it comes to the IRS. I am sure that more astute people have looked at the laws and couldn't find a way out of paying taxes. How could someone say that there isn't a law that says you have to pay taxes but you be arrested if you don't. That double talk. It's like saying that it is not against the law to smoke weed but you can be arrestd for smoking weed.
Bottom line - just pay the *** taxes and save yourself the grief later.
This happened in the courtooms of Florida. Had this been in California, Snipes would've been set free. The law applies to some and celebs normally don't get punished in this society. Good for the judge.
Over the last few years Snipes has forged passports to Africa and now this tax problem. Maybe he'll learn lessons about life while he's in there.
Sammy Davis, Jr. died broke and his widow had to sell off what was left. Frank Sinatra paid for his funeral!!! Red Foxx lost every thing too for not paying taxes. You must pay taxes if you work. There's no justification in this world for making millions and not paying taxes. None.
It's funny to me how people act like Wesley came up with this on his own. He had tax advisors working for him;two of which were found guilty on more serious charges and got more jail time. Wesley was also found innocent inregards to those more serious charges. So the goverment didn't win their total case against him.
@CraziNae630 What the hell does him marring an Asian women have to do with him being found guilty.MTO can post a pic of Kimora Lee or Amarie and you Black chics will say their pretty but then turn around and condem the Black father who created them for marrying another race. That's very CRAZY SICK AND INSECURE OF YOU.
@Vincee...PLEASE READ He was aquitted of the felony charges of tax fraud but found guilty on some misdemeanor failure to file charges. Why do you think no money or property was taken from him? The first verdict was not highly publicized because it may make ill informed citizens as yourself take a second, or should I say, first look at these so-called tax codes. And his 2 white co-defendants (his accountants) were not charged with these same charges nor were any of their hundreds of clients they have been giving bad advice to and defrauding being charged or investigated. Wesley because of his celebrity, and color of skin (not to mention the IRS having it in for him on a previous house foreclosure case he won) felt he was being unfairly targeted.
To all of you "LAW OBIDING" citizens there is a thin line between what's law and what's slavery/control tools. Slavery was law, Jim Crow was law, Separate but Equal was law. these "laws" were only challenged when someone stood up. These IRS tax codes aren't even law! Please my people, We are on this site all day talkin about folks dating choices, outfits, who's stank, etc...Please just take 5 minutes and research some of these issues that are pressing to us as a people and a nation. The info is there for you..you have access to information from all over the planet. Please I beg of us, just 5 minutes...then you can go back to bashing Rihanna for having ear wax and talking about who's supposedly having *** with whom
sexe757 *** thee F@$ck up! the way his sellout *** straight dissed black woman on national television like his mother ain't black. Thats what the *** he get! and hating on what the ***!gga going TO JAIL!!!!!!!!
King_menes thats some real *** you said but just because you say the woman is pretty don't mean I approved of the matrimony that created her. *** I can say a dog is pretty don't mean it's right to *** it and make a baby brotha! And I don't approve of the dilution of our race, something purposely done by white people millions of years ago!
