Wesley Snipes never left home without his American Express card -- problem is, he never paid his $30,000 bill before he went to prison ... this according to a new lawsuit.

The credit card company filed legal docs in Florida last week, insisting the imprisoned actor racked up a massive credit card bill as a free man, totaling $29,343.03 ... and now AmEx is out for payback, plus interest.

But it doesn't end there -- AmEx also wants Snipes to cover their attorney fees for the legal shakedown.

As we previously reported, Snipes is currently serving a 3-year sentence for tax evasion -- after allegedly failing to file tax returns for millions of dollars worth of income. He's expected to be released in 2013.

Hilarious sidenote: Snipes famously promoted AMEX in a commercial featured in "Major League" -- when his character, Willie Mays Hayes, reminded fans "Don't steal home without it."

Wesley Snipes ain't exactly qualified to teach you about paying taxes -- but TMZ has learned Snipes is teaching yoga while he's locked up.



Sources tell TMZ ... Snipes is teaching yoga to some of the other inmates at the McKean Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania. We're told Snipes requested yoga mats for himself and a few others ... and his request was granted.

Downward dog at your own risk.

Wesley Snipes can at least count on a solid meal for his first of three Christmases behind bars -- TMZ has learned ... the actor will feast on chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread ... and more!!!


Check out the full December 25th dinner menu at the McKean Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania -- baked chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, cheese quiche, cornbread stuffing, corn, rolls, wheat bread, and best of all ... ASSORTED PIES!!!

Sources at the prison tell TMZ, Snipes can also go to church, play cards, or watch movies if he wants.

Decisions, decisions.

Incarcerated celebs Wesley Snipes, T.I., DMX, and Cameron Douglas are on the naughty list this year (obviously) so Santa won't be paying them a visit ... in fact, they won't get any gifts whatsoever.


Federal prison inmates are prohibited from receiving any gifts from the outside world ... but they can still accept visitors ... and even make a few extra phone calls to relatives.

According to law enforcement, the Scrooge-tastic anti-gift policy is for safety and security reasons -- but all it does is make us sad.

You're a mean one, Mr. Clink.

Wesley Snipes' attorneys just filed a new appeal -- asking the court to let him out of prison while he attempts to take his tax evasion fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.


According to the documents -- filed today in Florida -- Snipes wants the U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn a decision that denied him bail last week ... right before he entered Federal Prison.

Snipes' lawyers want SUPCO to determine if Wesley should get a new trial because of alleged juror bias during his tax evasion case.

Wesley Snipes is good at getting paid, but bad at paying his taxes -- now a company that wants to work with Snipes while he's behind bars thinks it has a work-around.


Appitalism.com is putting together a mobile game where you have to try and break Snipes out of prison. The company is offering Wesley $10,000 to endorse it ... and they're even offering to pay the taxes for him, since that isn't his strong suit.

If only movie studios made that offer sooner.

After only one night behind bars, Wesley Snipes has already been subjected to cruel and unusual punishment ... the gaseous aftereffects of his prison's burrito night. Ay, caramba!



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Wesley Snipes had one hell of a surprise waiting for him when he checked into federal prison yesterday  -- BURRITO NIGHT!


TMZ has learned the "Passenger 57" star got to chow down on some quality prison-made Mexican food during his first night in lock up ... his menu options were:

-- beef and bean burrito or bean and cheese burrito
-- Mexican rice or steamed rice
-- pinto beans, corn and salsa.

Always bet on ... Pepto Bismol.

TMZ has obtained the last photo of  Wesley Snipes as a free man -- at least, for the next three years.


This photo was taken this morning at Bradford Regional Airport in Pennsylvania -- near the federal prison where Wesley surrendered soon after.

We're told dude was waiting in line for a rental car so he could drive himself over to the clink. 

Hertz, don't it?

We took your questions on everything -- including Michael Jackson's new music video,  Mel Gibson's church taking a break, and Miley Cyrus' new Florida crib.


Plus: Howard Stern ... five more years of foul-mouthed awesomeness.

Wesley Snipes is finally in federal custody to begin his 3 year prison sentence for tax evasion ... this according to prison officials.



Traci Billingsley, Chief Public Information Officer for the Bureau of Prisons, tells TMZ, "Wesley Snipes has self surrendered to the minimum security Federal Prison Camp at the Federal Correctional Institution McKean, in Bradford, Pennsylvania."

Another spokesperson for the B.O.P., Ed Ross, confirms, "Wesley Snipes has arrived and is at the prison facility in PA."

Story developing ...