Ron Isley Gets 3 Years for Tax Evasion

LOS ANGELES - Ronald Isley has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for tax evasion.

The 65-year-old R&B singer was also ordered to pay $3.1 million in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Conte.

Isley was convicted last year of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return.

During Friday's hearing, defense attorney Anthony Alexander argued that Isley should receive probation instead of prison time because of complications from a stroke and a recent bout with kidney cancer.

Alexander also pleaded for leniency because Isley had been attempting to pay down his IRS debt.

"He's been liquidating assets, he's been doing the things that he can," Alexander said.

But U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson declined to sentence Isley to less time than called for under federal guidelines.

"The term serial tax avoider has been used. I think that's appropriate," Pregerson said.

During the trial, prosecutors said Isley, lead singer of The Isley Brothers, avoided paying taxes numerous times in the past three decades and declared bankruptcy after the IRS seized his yacht, cars and other property in 1997.

He was discharged from bankruptcy four years later, but then did not file tax returns for the years 1997 to 2001 and in 2002 did not sign his return and failed to pay all taxes due.

Alexander argued during the trial that "unfortunate circumstances" such as the deaths of two of Isley's accountants made him unable to get records together and pay taxes during the years that led to the criminal charges.

Isley's recent albums include a 2003 collaboration with Burt Bacharach titled, "Here I Am," and The Isley Brothers album "Body Kiss."

Busted Lyrics
by Isley Brothers

[Ron Isley]
....Yeah...Bring your ass over here.
..I got something for you...

[Verse 1 - Ron Isley + (JS)]
Busted
Its 2 o' damn clock in the morning Where you been?
(Baby didn't you get my 2-way
I was with my girlfriend)
You a lie
I called Kiesha and Tanya and they were both at home
(But I didn't say them though)
Well they the only things I know
Girl you better
(Wait before you get all upset here's the truth)
Talk to me
(I was with my girl when she had some bad mews)
Yeah
(Her man cheated
had her upset and confused)
But baby what's that got to do
with you coming in at 2
(I'm telling you
now she was so upset she asked me to stay with her)
Well why didn't your ass just pick up the phone and call me
(I was gonna do that but it slipped my mind I'm sorry)
(But I'm telling you the truth)
Yeah, well I got something for you
Tell me what's her name?
(Sharen)
Where she live?
(Uuummm...)
Her man's name?
(Billy)
She got kids?
(I think 1 or 2)
She got kids?
(Baby yes, no)
Here's 1 thing I got to know
How the hell is she your friend if you don't know if she got kids

[Chorus 1 - Ron Isley + (R. Kelly)]
Go upstairs (Busted)
Pack your bags (Cause you busted)
While you at it (Busted)
Call a cab (Cause you busted)
It's obvious (Busted)
You played around (Cause you busted)
Go upstairs and get your shit
and get the f--- up out of here now

[Verse 2 - Ron Isley + (JS)]
(Frank please here me out)
Ain't nothing to talk about
(I can explain everything)
Right now I want you out this house
(Baby please one more chance
let me tell you where I've been)
Well quit wasting my time
and say what's on your mind
(Fine
Me and some girlfriends we went dancing me Shaniqua, Shaquan, and Robin)
Well if ya'll were going shopping
why didn't you just check in
(I was but then I thought
my cellular was off)
Now earlier (hmmm) you said dancing (uhhh)
But when I just asked (hmmm) you said shopping (uhhh)
Tell me which one you were doing
(Oh baby I must be confused)
Yeah right you real confused
Tell me where you been?
(Dancing)
Dancing where?
(Uuummm...)
The name of the club?
(Kisses)
What time it is?
(I think one or two)
What time it is?
(Three, four)
Here's one thing I got to know
At first you say dancing
But now you say shopping

[Chorus 1]

[Verse 3 - Ron Isley + (JS)]
(Baby I'm a victim of circumstances) oohhhhh...
(Why you don't believe I don't understand it)
Trying to slick a can of oil who you think you fooling
Now get on out my face (Baby)
Before I catch another case (Baby)

[Chorus 2 - Ron Isley + (JS) + {R. Kelly}]
Go upstairs {Busted}
Pack your bags (I don't wanna)
{Cause you busted}
While you at it {Busted}
Call a cab (A cab for what)
{Cause you busted}
Its obvious {Busted}
You played around (No I'm not)
{Cause you busted}
Go upstairs and get your shit (No)
and get the f--- up out of here now

[Hook - Ron Isley + (JS)]
(Noooooo. Innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent)
Noooo. You guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty
(Ohhhh now wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute)
Go upstairs and get your shit
and get the f--- up out of here now

[JS] - Tell me, where am I suppose to go from here

[Ron] - Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn

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