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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 ...



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1. WOWWWWWW!!!!

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

2. First?

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

3. 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

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

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

5. ouch

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

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. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

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

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

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

10. 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

11. Justice for a movie star at last!

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

12. Can you say appeal?

Posted at 10:53PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Ken

13. 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

14. Dont these people ever learn not to mess with uncle sam

Posted at 7:11PM on Apr 25th 2008 by courtney smith

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

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

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