Snipes Charged With Federal Tax Fraud

AP ^ | 10-17-06 | LARA JAKES JORDAN

[truthandlife]

Actor Wesley Snipes was indicted Tuesday on eight counts of tax fraud for failing to pay nearly $12 million in taxes and failing to file tax returns for six years.

Federal prosecutors in Tampa, Fla., said Snipes fraudulently claimed refunds in 1996 and 1997 on taxes already paid, and then failed to file returns between 1999 and 2004.

[Holicheese]

I want to know what Madonna has to say about this. Maybe Sean Penn can weigh in.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

"Some mother******s are always trying to ice skate up hill." - Blade

[Rakkasan1]

ours will be another movie from him.

[Veggie Todd]

Like Bono

Isn't Sonny Bono dead?

[Screamname]

Freggin` lunatic! The same thing happened to me, had my taxes done five years ago by a psycho accountant who pulled the same BS..Lucky for me I immediately sent back the refund and filed an amendment, but from that ONE false return they made my life a living effin` hell! And this dude screwed with them for 6 years? Goodbyyye Wesley, it`s been nice knowin` ya!

[misterrob]

Drudge has it as him facing 40 years....

Ugh

[misterrob]

He'll go to Federal pen and likely to PC given his star status. That's only because he is a target.

[Screamname]

LOL!! True true! Or even better, a billionaire oil dealer with a wife who contributes to the Clinton library. Well now it would have to be the Hillary library if she wins in `08. By the way, it`s on the record that Marc Rich is the biggest tax cheat in US history isn`t it? Someone told me he holds the all time record meaning he is not ONE of, but THE biggest tax cheat in history, and he can now waltz in and out of this country without spending one second in the can, or ever spending one second.

[4yearlurker]

C'mon Mr. Snipes,pay your taxes. After all it's for the children and the Homeless and the elderly. The way this guy wants to hold on to his money you would think he was a evil (winner in life's lottery)Republican.

[misterrob]

Mr Snipes committed fraud. You can argue about the merits of a tax system that pays for many things including our nation's defense.

[2right]

Should've gone to Duey, Cheatem and Howe.

[mlo]

However within the present system, nothing looks abusive about this action, if the facts are as reported.

Only paying taxes on foreign income is withing the present system?

[Lockbox]

MAY 16 2006--Richard Hatch, the original "Survivor" winner, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for tax evasion. Hatch, 45, was convicted in January of failing to report income of $1.4 million to the Internal Revenue Service (that figure included the $1 million payday he banked for winning the CBS reality show in 2000). During this morning's sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Providence, Judge Ernest Torres gave Hatch additional prison time after prosecutors argued that he perjured himself during trial. A copy of the criminal indictment filed against Hatch can be found below. In addition to the sentence enhancement, Torres ordered Hatch to pay nearly $500,000 in overdue taxes.

[x]

It sounds like he got taken in by one of those "legally you don't have to pay income taxes scams" that fool a lot of people who've made much less money and have very different politics.

The strange thing is that so many of us do obediently fill out our tax forms. Some day the system is going to change and be put on a more sensible basis.

[fuyb]

Wesley Snipes responds:

“Republicans openly boasted that they would engage in a campaign of personal attacks and smears to hold onto power in Washington. In recent days, we witnessed their latest attempt to do just that.”

“To elevate everyone’s concerns in this matter and to put this to rest, I have directed my staff to file amended financial disclosure forms”

Thank you and have a nice day”

[Stoat]

BREITBART.COM - Actor Wesley Snipes faces 40 years for alleged tax evasion

Actor Wesley Snipes faces 40 years for alleged tax evasion
Oct 17 1:47 PM US/Eastern
 

 

Hollywood star Wesley Snipes was charged Tuesday with failing to pay taxes and conspiracy in an indictment that could put the versatile actor and producer behind bars for more than 40 years.

Federal prosecutors in Tampa released an "an eight-count indictment charging Wesley Trent Snipes, formerly of Windermere, Florida; Eddie Ray Kahn, of Sorrento, Florida; and Douglas P. Rosile, of Venice, Florida, with conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and presenting a fraudulent claim for payment to the IRS."

"Each of the conspiracy and false claim charges carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment," prosecutors added, noting: "Snipes is also charged with six counts of failing to file income tax returns."

"Snipes also faces up to one year imprisonment on each charge of failing to file income tax returns," they said.

Snipes, known for his work in films such as "Jungle Fever", "Demolition Man" and "Blade" if convicted on all counts could sit out the rest of his working years in jail.

According to the indictment, Snipes, Kahn and Rosile tried "through dishonest means, to make it appear as if Snipes had no liability for federal income taxes, when, in fact, Snipes had such tax liabilities. As part of the scheme, the defendants allegedly prepared and filed two amended federal income tax returns for Snipes, fraudulently claiming refunds of 1996 and 1997 income taxes previously paid, totaling almost 12 million dollars."

"The indictment also alleges that Snipes did not file his 1999 through 2004 federal income tax returns, even though the law required him to do so," their statement said.

"Our system of government depends on citizens paying their fair share of taxes. Those who intentionally and unlawfully harass the IRS through deceit, trickery and fraud undermine the collection of revenue that is vital to every aspect of the operation of our government, including defense, the war on terror, health care, law enforcement and education," chief prosecutor Paul Perez said in Tampa

[RobRoy]

I actually have a videotape from Larkin Rose regarding this 861 thing.

The problem is, the foundation on which it depends is that you file no return. Once you file a return you are opening yourself up to lying on a return, etc. His asking for refunds was odd too.

Now that I think of it, I suspect he may be doing this on purpose. It is possible he WANTED them to press this for the same reason The ACLU and other groups look for someone to violate what they believe is an unconstitutional law. Then the court case becomes very revealing, often overturning the law. Why else would he ask for the whopping refund? Talk about raising a big red flag. I mean, bullsey.

A case against Snipes would be very high profile indeed.

Just my 2 cents.

[RobRoy]

I see you beat me to it. I have in my posession the video on this 861 thing. It is very compelling. I have a friend who has not paid taxes nor filed a return in well over a decade. Almost two now. However, he does own his own business and pays all state taxes and fees. So far he has been unmolested by the feds - as has everyone that I am aware of who properly execute this form of fed tax non-payment on domestic earnings of a citizen.

[Young Scholar]

It's extra hypocritical for Democrats, though, since they they support raising taxes on everyone else.

[PhilipFreneau]

Drudge is reporting that Snipes could receive 40 years (5 years on each of 8 counts). But with today's liberal judges that can be interpreted to mean a reduced sentence to 6 months, with time off for good behavior, which is defined as not killing the warden.