Prosecutor Recommends 3 Years, $5 Million Fine For For Wesley Snipes

OCALA, Fla. — Federal prosecutors say actor Wesley Snipes should serve the maximum possible penalty for failing to file a tax return.

Prosecutors say in court documents filed Monday that Snipes' case "cries out" for him to serve the maximum, which is up to three years in prison.

The "Blade" star's lawyer says he has not reviewed the documents and will respond with a pre-sentencing memorandum of his own.

Snipes, 45, was convicted in February of failing to file a tax return. He was acquitted of more serious tax fraud and conspiracy charges.

He's set to be sentenced April 24.

Comments

[truthyguy]

Why is the main page heading on this "Judge" Recommends 5 years? It is the prosecutors whose recommendation is the basis of the story.

[longnow]

He still like the Asians. Probably his accountant and his lawyer.

[HmblDog]

He should only have to pay a fine.
He paid for legal tax advice.
This advice lead him to believe that he wasn't required to pay taxes.
A jury said he honestly believed that he wasn't required to pay taxes.
Therefore he didn't deliberately break any laws.
He was ordered to pay fines and all taxes owed. But he didn't break any laws.
Companies use this strategy on a daily basis. A lawyer says it's ok then you're covered.
CEOs pay for tax shelters and have a bought and paid for a legal opinion saying it's ok and they're covered.
John Yoo tells the President it's ok and he's covered.
Harriet Myers tells the President it's ok and she and he are both covered.
So let's not get all wound up when the strategy is taken to it's logical conclusion.
The prosecutor can wish in one hand and spit in the other but Wesley is only following a clear trail that others have paved.

[asl3676]

You must be kidding? Some moron tells a multi- millionaire like Sipes he doesn't have to file and therefore he should'nt be held responsible? Snipes' defense was lame? Think he paid his lawyers or did someone tell him he didn't have to pay his legal fees?
It's one thing to fight an audit...it­s another not to file a tax return

[Sundialsvc4]

You know, the IRS does this every single year right around tax-time. They find some high-profile person and make a scapegoat out of him for the cameras.

Even if this guy owed a billion dollars in taxes, I'm much more concerned about the amount of money that IRS managed to --lose-- through the inept use of private contractors. In terms of revenue, that's frankly much more important to the business of government than pillorying a well-known celebrity.

If IRS proceeds, they're going to get nailed on "cruel and unusual punishment" and well they should. So the man failed to file a tax-return. W00t. Unless you nail every single errant taxpayer with a $5 million fine and 3 years in jail ... every single one ... you're clearly NOT pursuing this action either for law-enforcement purposes nor for revenue collection. You're putting on a show and destroying a man's life while doing it.

IRS is obviously and necessarily given severe law-enforcement powers, but this is an egregiously inappropriate and unfair use of those powers, and a waste of our money. "General Accounting Office, line one please. GAO, line one."

[Rule Of Law]

As I noted below, Sundial, the timing on these witch hunts is Always highly suspect! If the Founding Fathers had intended there to be an income tax on us all, they would have included it in the Constitution. And as long as Hedge Fund mangers can make $3.2 Billion a year and pay only 15% maximum tax on it, then we have a real problem here in this country.

[wanked]

He probably doesn't want to support a govt. who uses tax dollars to kill in his name.....

[Bobleblah1]

Well, you cant say they were not warned.

I just don't get why these guys cant see what is going to happen.
Sometimes you should just quit while your ahead.
Look for this story to become big if Wesley Snipes actually gets 3 years.
They do not want to open this can of worms? Documentaries will be the least of
their problems.

These IRS/FED guys have a lot of balls, now lets all watch them choke on em.

[Rule Of Law]

Let's see--Martha Stewart engages in stock fraud, gaming the system and affecting the investments of who knows how many others, and she does minimum time in country club camp.

Enron CEO Jeff Skilling, convicted of destroying billion dollar company and the lives of thousands of pension holders, begins prison sentence, Dec. 2006. Appeals, Oct. 2007. Will be either released on conviction overturn or Presidential Pardon, 2008. Total time servered, estimated at 2 years or less.

Wesley Snipes; Black man. Liberal movie star. Tax protester. Refuses to pay taxes he feels are Unconstitutional, an issue between himself and the IRS. Will be fined $5 million, sentenced to 3 years and will serve every day of it for challenging the powers that be.

[sandiegoconservative]

The problem with your analysis is as follows

Martha Stewart's total crime was for about $50k, and that was not a very strong case.

Jeff Skilling is still in prison and was convicted and handed a 24 year prison sentence with $45 million in fines. You have absolutely no evidence to support your contention that he will be pardoned.

Wesley Snipes failed to pay on taxes multiple occasions. and as it has been proven many times over, federal taxation is not unconstitutional. Whether or not it is an issue between "himself and the IRS" makes absolutely no sense, he is still guilty.

[Rule Of Law]

Oh, you're a Judge, and a Constitutional Law expert as well? I'm impressed.

Martha gamed the system, and each time one person does that, it hurts untold numbers of others playing by the rules.

Skilling--do we even need to go over the vast damage he did?

Wesley--is a tax protester acting on the paid advice of professionals who should know the law. But because, especially at this time of year--and you must admit that the timing is just perfect for the IRS--he threatens the system that robs from us all, he will pay the fullest price. And I stand by my prediction re Skilling.

Now, you be sure to have a nice day back there at the local IRS office and remember to paste that gold star right on your forehead for a job well done!

[LivingStardust]

CORRECT THE DAMN HEADLINE ALREADY!!!!!!

[LivingStardust]

As of this posting HuffPo, the headline is STILL wrong on the Entertainment page. If you guys needs someone for QC, email me. That's just sloppy.

[CharltonHestonsGUN]

Hey Wesley,

With your kind of money, just get on a plane and leave that shithole called the Useless States.

I did 19 years ago and have been living happily and freely....­..........­..........­......beli­eve me its NOT the best place in the world.

[cmbaldwin]

and where would one go when hiding from the IRS? I get penalized every year for being single with no dependents! I hate paying these assholes!

[Christopher1]

He should serve more then that but won't because he's black. If a white person cheated like that his white ass would have been jailed long time ago.......­....

[midtown]

Oh really? Willie Nelson didn't go to jail for $16 Million in unpaid taxes. Neither did Boris Becker or Spiro Agnew for that matter.

[robXdion]

BULLSHYT!!! He will serve the full sentence because he is black. The prosecutor recommended the full sentence because he is a black celebrity. Do you know how many white men get probation or just pay a fine with community service for the same offense???!!?? Getdafuckoutta here with that BS!! You sound like a bigot that's bitter because Snipes is a rich black man with white women as his love interests in nearly every film.

[sandiegoconservative]

And you know that how? Please enlighten the rest of us.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Huff Post drops the ball again, and with significant regularity. Headline's wrong. No JUDGE involved in the pre-sentencing recommendation, to the court, by the prosecution.

[midtown]

Correct the headline. This was not a sentence, nor an indication of the Judge's desire to "make an example" out of Snipes. It was a Florida US attorney, and it represents his opinion only.

[yellowdawgdem]

YOUR HEADLINE IS WRONG.
The "US Attorney" recommended the sentence, NOT THE JUDGE.

[LivingStardust]

Yeah HuffPo. What's up with that?

[fishsandwichesr2good]

That's typical of the huffpo headline writers -- a high school edumacation is obviously not required for that position.