Celebrity Justice
Wesley Gets Three Years!!!

Posted Apr 24th 2008 5:53PM by TMZ Staff

Wesley SnipesA judge has just sentenced Wesley Snipes to three years in prison for tax evasion. Forget black -- always bet on the U.S. government!

Snipes was not forced to surrender immediately. Instead, the judge ruled he could surrender at a later date, closer to his New Jersey home.

Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Tax Division, said, "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."

Snipes was convicted in February on three misdemeanor charges for not filing his taxes. The government claimed he owed $2.7 mil -- but Snipes' attorneys argued it was just $228,000. No fine was imposed, but the three-year sentence was the max he could have gotten.


Celebrity friends Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson wrote letters in his defense to appeal for leniency. Oh well ...



Filed under: Celebrity Justice


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1. WOWWWWWW!!!!

Posted at 5:56PM on Apr 24th 2008 by JessBcuz

2. I'm sure it will be a suspended sentence.

Posted at 5:57PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Kat

3. First?

Posted at 5:57PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Gigi

4. ouch

Posted at 5:57PM on Apr 24th 2008 by DildoJones

5. Good!!! If I have to pay taxes on the peanuts I make....pay yours on the millions.

Posted at 5:57PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Pie In The Sky

6. He should have paid his taxes. He's not special just because he's a celebrity.

Posted at 5:59PM on Apr 24th 2008 by James

7. LOL- I agree with #5, that was so f"en funny! True true!!!

Posted at 5:59PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Moneypenny

8. soon, his butthole will be getting stretched from this (o) to this (O)

Posted at 5:59PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Ramone

9. wow was not expecting that one! Watch how many people will call it racist! He deserves it! That's what happens when you don't pay your taxes!!

Posted at 5:59PM on Apr 24th 2008 by morgan

10. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 6:00PM on Apr 24th 2008 by LadyVamp

11. I'll admit I didn't follow the case closely, so I don't know the true extent of his 'tax evasion'; however, I do think 3 years IMPRISIONMENT is too harsh. I don't think we should use the penal system to make an example of people. Snipes shouldn't bear the brunt of possible future tax evaders. The fact that he was acquitted of the felonies--and has no priors--should warrant probation AND a hefty fine (whatever's owed plus interest). This makes no sense to me.

Posted at 6:02PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Karen

12. oh c'mon....gimme a break!

Posted at 6:02PM on Apr 24th 2008 by anonymous

13. Oh yeah, #10, IT'S RACISTS!!! How many white celebs have been INCARCERATED for failure to pay taxes?

Posted at 6:04PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Karen

14. Justice for a movie star at last!

Posted at 6:05PM on Apr 24th 2008 by georgem

15. YES! This is no suprise. DUI's, possesion of drugs etc. can be punished with 6 hours in jail...
Tax Evasion is a whole nother ballgame....the gov. HAS to send him away for 3 yrs as other
non tax-payers are watching...PAY YOUR TAXES like the rest of us beeeetch.

Posted at 6:05PM on Apr 24th 2008 by barfy

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