Hip-hop mega-producer Sean Garrett has worked with the biggest names in the business, but for the foreseeable future, a portion of every dollar ​he makes will go straight to the biggest name of all ... UNCLE SAM. 

According to docs filed by the Georgia Department of Revenue, Garrett owes back taxes for the years 2006 and 2007 to the tune of $732,553.57.

So the government is tired of waiting for their cash, they ordered BMI, which collects royalties for artists, to hold all money Garrett makes and turn it over to them.

Garrett has produced 15 number one songs in his career -- for the likes of Beyonce, Usher, and Nicki Minaj -- so Uncle Sam should have his money in no time.

Tia Carrere's dance moves didn't do her any good last night when she encountered a purse thief in her Las Vegas dressing room following a performance of "Dancing With the Stars: Live in Las Vegas" last night ... TMZ has learned. 

According to our sources, Carrere came face-to-face with a guy lurking in her private dressing room after her 10:00 PM show at the Tropicana last night. Rather than scream for help, Carrere tried to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and see what he was doing there ... but he promptly bolted right past her. 

Carrere then called out for help, but it was too late ... our sources say the guy made off with her purse, two iPhones, and a wad of cash. We're told another dancer, Anya Garris, had her wallet cleaned out as well.  

Carrere called police and filed a theft report. The case is now under investigation.

Justin Bieber is a suspect in a criminal battery ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Justin was in Calabasas, where he lives, just after noon Sunday at a mall called The Commons.  A paparazzo attempted to take Justin's picture and, according to law enforcement, some sort of physical altercation erupted between Justin and the camera guy.

The photog called 911, and when cops arrived Justin and GF Selena Gomez had already split. 

The photog complained of pain to his upper torso, an ambulance was summoned and he was taken to a local hospital where he was examined and released a short time later.

The photog filed a police report naming Justin as the culprit. Cops are investigating the incident as a misdemeanor battery.

Law enforcement tells us detectives want to speak with Justin, Selena and any other witnesses.

We placed a call to Justin's rep ... so far, no comment.


We're told several witnesses at the scene say after the altercation, a lawyer walked up to the photog and said he could get a lot of money out of the incident and advised the dude to call for an ambulance and file a police report. 

Witnesses also say the photog had been blocking Justin's car as the singer was trying to leave.  Justin got out of the car and asked the guy to move away but he wouldn't, and a scuffle ensued.

Lindsay Lohan may have to stash some of her "Liz and Dick" money in the Caymans, because a tanning salon is going after her with a vengeance for not paying a judgment for a humongous tanning bill.

It's been 9 months since a Nevada judge ordered Lindsay to pay the $40,000 bill to the salon and -- surprise, she hasn't paid a cent.  Now the salon is trying to get the matter moved to California, so it can attach Lindsay's assets to satisfy the judgment.

TMZ broke the story ... Lindsay racked up the bill for intense bronzing between 2007-2009, courtesy of Tanning Vegas, located in Nevada.

Calls to Lindsay's camp weren't returned.

Timothy Busfield -- the star of  'The West Wing," "thirtysomething" and "Revenge of the Nerds" -- is by no means in the clear over allegations he sexually assaulted a date, because we've learned her complaint is now going to the L.A. City Attorney for possible prosecution.

TMZ broke the story ... a woman accused Busfield of groping her during a date at a San Fernando Valley movie theater.  She went to cops, who have been investigating the case.

We're told detectives want to interview Busfield, after which they will send the file over to the L.A. City Attorney.  Of course, Busfield doesn't have to speak to cops, but either way the case is going to prosecutors.

The good news for Busfield -- the case won't be referred to the LA. County D.A., who could file felony charges where prison would be on the line.  The City Attorney can only file misdemeanor sexual assault charges, and the maximum penalty is 6 months in jail.

The estranged husband of "Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell insists ... he supported her for YEARS with his NBA salary -- but now his cash supply is running low ... and it's her turn to keep him financially afloat.

Former NBA player Charlie Bell -- who filed for divorce from Kenya earlier this year -- filed legal docs, claiming he's been low on cash ever since the NBA dropped him last year.  Charlie's been playing pro ball internationally ever since, but the money's just not the same -- not nearly.

Charlie concedes he's got over a mil in the bank, but claims Kenya's the one who's hit it big with her role on "Basketball Wives" -- even releasing music on iTunes -- so it's her turn to lend him a helping hand, in the form of spousal support.

Charlie claims he only makes $100k a year playing basketball in Italy -- while Kenya rakes in three times that amount on "Basketball Wives."

Kenya shot back calling BS on Charlie's cries for help -- denying she earns $300,000 on the VH1 show.

Kenya also wants a chunk of Charlie's 7-figure savings.

UPDATE -- Bynes took to her Twitter page Sunday night to deny the story, writing, "I cant help but laugh at all of you writing fake stories about me. I was not in any hit and runs. I don’t drink so the DUI is false."



Amanda Bynes slammed into a car on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley on April 10 ... then fled the scene -- according to the victim who told cops the troubled actress was the culprit.

The culprit was driving a 5 series BMW at the time of the accident. The victim gave chase, got off the freeway, but the culprit blew a red light, never to be seen again. The victim was able to write down the license plate number.  She only got a profile view of the woman driving the BMW.

CHP showed up, ran the plate and determined it was a rental vehicle.  Officers told the victim the culprit was driving an Enterprise rental car.  The victim then contacted Enterprise, who told her the person who had rented the car was Amanda Bynes. 

The victim then showed up at a CHP substation and ID'd Amanda from a photo lineup.  And get this ... the photo of Amanda was taken just 4 days earlier -- it was her mug shot from a DUI arrest.  Amanda was driving in West Hollywood on April 6 when she clipped a cop car and was immediately popped for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the case was referred to a filing officer at the L.A. City Attorney's Office who immediately rejected it because there was no independent witness fingering Amanda as the phantom driver.

Amanda was accused earlier this month of hitting a car in Hollywood and then fleeing the scene.  She told cops she did not feel the impact and was not ticketed.

Justin Bieber thinks the folks behind the "Joustin Beaver" mobile app need a lesson in geography .. claiming they filed a lawsuit against him in the WRONG STATE and now he wants it dismissed ASAP.

Bieber has been going back and forth with a company called RC3 -- they claim their game is a parody and protected under the Constitution ... but Bieber feels the game infringes upon his likeness and wants it pulled ... STAT.

According to court docs filed this week, Bieber is looking to have the suit tossed on a technicality -- claiming RC3 screwed up when they filed their suit in Florida, since he doesn't even live there. 

We'll see if the move works ... a judge has yet to rule.

Bow Wow can officially check another lawsuit off his list of legal woes, but doing so is gonna cost him almost $4,000 ... TMZ has learned.

A Georgia court ruled this week in favor of the limo company that sued the rapper for not paying his bill. He's been ordered to pay $3,594.87 in a default judgement because he never showed up in court.

Sources close to Bow Wow tell TMZ he is currently in the process of cleaning up his financial troubles, which has included hiring a new team to handle his business affairs.

Bow Wow already paid off one lawsuit this year -- $90,000 to settle an unpaid tour bus bill -- and we're told his new team is already in the process of dealing with the three tax liens already against him for the years 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Mary J. Blige's charity is more TAKE than give ... this according to a bank which claims it lent the foundation $250,000 ... but only got $400 back.

TMZ has learned ... the Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now is being sued by TD Bank over a $250k loan it took out back in June 2011.

According to a suit filed earlier this month in New York, the foundation agreed to pay the money back by December 2011, but when the time came to collect ... the org. had only put a $368.33 dent into the principal.

The bank claims it has demanded payment in writing on February 7 and 29, but hasn't heard back from the foundation. 

This lawsuit isn't the only troubles with which the foundation is dealing. It didn't file a federal tax return for 2010 .. so says the NY Post, and it's also being sued by musicians from a 2011 fundraising gala who claim when it came time for payment they were stiffed.

A rep for Blige tells TMZ, "The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation For The Advancement Of Women Now, Inc. (FFAWN) is presently transitioning its management and headquarters."

The rep adds, "We remain committed to our mandate of helping  women gain the confidence and skills necessary to reach their full individual potential."

Lane Garrison has become an incarcerated version of Martin Luther King Jr., trying to integrate the inmates at L.A. County Jail.

The way it works as a practical matter ... inmates traditionally stick with their own race -- they eat together, congregate together during recreational hours and so on.  And sources in the Sheriff's Dept. tell us ... the separation actually keeps the jail safer.

We're told Lane is trying to crack the race barrier and he's focusing on something universal to all ... food.  Lane is trying to get people of all races together during meal time and is telling friends it's actually starting to stick. 

Lane is saying he's been able to get African Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians to eat together and they're talking, laughing and generally getting along.

Lane's experiment may be short-lived.  He's supposed to get out of jail on June 29.  He's being held on a parole hold after his domestic violence arrest last month.