Sending a Message - Wesley Snipes Gets 3 Years

To all of those tax evaders who refuse to pay taxes because they believe income tax is unconstitutional, the federal government just sent a clear message -- not paying taxes will land you in jail. Movie actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges in Ocala, Florida.

In spite of receiving character references from the rich and famous, apologizing for his behavior and writing the government checks totaling $5 million, the "Blade" actor received the maximum sentence for his three misdemeanor convictions for failing to file tax returns from 1999-2001.

Judge Hodges pointed to Snipes' "history of contempt over a period of time" for U.S. tax laws before giving him the maximum sentence, referring to Snipes' long time claim that the IRS did not have the authority to collect taxes.

"In my mind these are serious crimes, albeit misdemeanors," Hodges said.

Snipes was found guilty of three counts of not filing tax returns in February, but was acquitted of four charges involving tax fraud. The jury voted that there was no fraud because Snipes never filed any returns.

Judge Hodges also ignored the pleas from Snipes' friends and family, including letters from Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson. Some speaking on his behalf said Snipes was being targeted because he was famous, but other observers said the actor was targeted simply because he owes probably $38 million in back taxes.

"One of the main purposes which drives selective prosecution in tax cases is deterrence," the judge told Snipes. "In some instances, that means those of celebrity stand greater risk of prosecution. But there's nothing unusual about it, nor is there anything unlawful about it. It's the way the system works." See Also:
Wesley Snipes to Serve 3 Years in Prison for Tax Convictions

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^{Photo: Paul Hawthorne - Getty Images}