Wesley Snipes to Appeal 3-Year Term; Case a Warning to Others

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Tax Law

Wesley Snipes to Appeal 3-Year Term; Case a Warning to Others

Posted Apr 25, 2008, 10:20 am CDT
By Martha Neil

Three consecutive one-year prison terms might seem like a hefty price to pay for misdemeanor convictions for failing to file a tax return. But when the defendant is a famous Hollywood actor who allegedly failed to pay millions in taxes, the public needs to see that justice is being done, prosecutors contended in the case of Wesley Snipes.

And the judge agreed, sentencing the 45-year-old action star yesterday in Ocala, Fla., to the maximum allowable three-year prison term. It is unclear from news reports whether Snipes has been fined the $5 million that prosecutors had sought as well. However, several hours before yesterday's sentencing, Snipes had several checks totaling $5 million delivered to the court, reports the Associated Press. "So taken aback were prosecutors that they first declined the cash. But by the end of the day, the government took the money and more—a maximum three-year sentence for its highest-profile criminal tax target in decades."

Snipes reportedly plans to appeal the sentence; his lawyers had sought probation for the first-time offender and presented testimonials from other Hollywood celebrities, as well individuals who work for Snipes, about his many positive characteristics. However, the government portrayed Snipes as a high-profile willful violator who needed to be severely punished to send a message to others. (Snipes had originally been charged with more serious felony tax counts, too, but was acquitted on Feb. 1 of all but the three misdemeanors.)

"Prosecutors estimated that Snipes failed to pay $15.6 million in income taxes over six years. He hid millions of dollars in offshore accounts and threatened U.S. government employees, including one who rejected a $4 million refund claim as frivolous, the government said in court papers," Bloomberg reports.

Including penalties, the amount of unpaid taxes tops $20 million, according to the Age, an Australian newspaper. It describes the $5 million delivered to the court yesterday as a payment to the Internal Revenue Service.

Additional coverage:

BBC: "How action hero Snipes hit trouble"

ABC News: "Wesley Snipes Slammed With 3 Years in Prison"

Comments

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Posted by FlatWrong - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 7 hours, 26 minutes ago

Bad Law. Bad Judge. Bad Politics.
I hope Snipes wins the appeal, and gets a fine and just 100 hours community service. Right thing.
Posted by associate - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 6 hours, 7 minutes ago

I agree. Paying taxes should be optional.

Seriously though, 3 years is very light. If you can’t get tax fraud out of this case, then why is the law even on the books?

I pay my debts and have ZERO sympathy for those who don’t and just want to freeload off of my tax money.
Posted by Bill Jonas - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 1 hour, 23 minutes ago

Snipes is a good actor. Who are we going to watch getting on a jet plane for the next 3 years? Any suggestions on who passenger 58 should be?
Posted by 3L - 2 months, 1 week, 2 days, 9 hours, 14 minutes ago

It is one thing to sentence everyone who has committed tax crimes equally, whether prosecuting them and convicting them is the right thing or not (that debate aside). But to sentence a person at the harshest level just because he is successful and famous, it just reeks of politics merging with justice. The fact that Snipes cannot escape prosecution or a conviction is enough to send a “message” to the public - shoving him into prison for as long as possible just to make a point, that really stinks! I hope Snipes wins his appeal. Justice should be equal for all - regardless of wealth (and that goes both ways).

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