Wesley Snipes Must Reimburse Government

OCALA, Fla. — Actor Wesley Snipes must reimburse the government in prosecution costs for his tax conviction.

According to court documents, U.S. District Court Judge William Terrell Hodges ruled last week the action film star must reimburse the government about $217,000. Snipes, star of the "Blade" trilogy and "White Men Can't Jump" among other movies, had objected to the cost.

A message left with Snipes' attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday.

A jury convicted Snipes in February of three counts of willfully failing to file his income taxes. He has appealed the convictions and his three-year prison sentence.

Comments

[Triangle1]

01:57 AM on 08/07/2008

Whoever invented the IRS in the first place, well, lucky this person isn't alive. As I log in every mile I drive, save every receipt, pay for a tax preparer, pay taxes quarterly, and live in fear of making a mistake because I don't know a complicated set of accounting rules that fill volumes of guidebooks. I'm not only responsible for billing myself for taxes, I then must make sure everything is accurate, documenting my every business move, revealing every penny I earn, and putting my own time into the entire preparation over the course of every year. The threat of an audit floats around for every American citizen. Yes, it's a threat. And if your number comes up, you're in for an emotional ordeal and grand set of complications involving the likelihood you have to hire a tax preparer and an attorney. Not cheap. Meanwhile, a universal sales tax to replace the outdated dreaded income tax is sitting around congress going nowhere fast. I'm not alone in saying all Americans despise the IRS and would WELCOME a change. http://mespace.wordpress.com/

[jsrl317]

07:37 PM on 08/06/2008

always bet on black.

I bet Wesley serves 0 days in prison, I back that decision since I need to see anotehr Blade Movie or something with some kung fu.

I just watched Demolition Man, LOVED IT:
"Mellow greetings citizen, what's your boggle?" KABOOM
"..time for something new and improved!" KABOOM
"...a blast from the past!" KABOOM
"...those hostages were as cold as Hagen Dasz!" KABOOM
"Illuminate, deluminate!" KABOOM

[the964kid]

02:39 PM on 08/06/2008

Hasn't the government seen Blade??!

No way are you gonna keep that guy in prison.

[BlueandGreen]

11:54 AM on 08/06/2008

You folks don't live in Ocala ... I do. Snipes gloated the whole time he was here, knowing he was only going to get a slap on the wrist, which he did.

[SwingVoter]

04:52 PM on 08/06/2008

Three years is not a slap on the wrist.

[BlueandGreen]

08:16 PM on 08/06/2008

Maybe not, but he's not in jail ... he's walking around free, on appeal; furthermore, he was granted permission to go abroad (London and then Bangkok) to work. His attorney claims he's not a flight risk ... guess we'll see about that.

And the $217,363.75 he's been ordered to pay? Considering how much Snipes has saved by not paying taxes, that's chicken feed.

If you or I got nailed for not paying taxes, where do you think we'd be? Not jetting off across the pond, out of reach of the long arms of the law!

[kevingiampa]

10:24 AM on 08/06/2008

I guess I'm for the financial penalties, but is society going to be made any safer by putting Wesley Snipes in prison for three years? We have start thinking a little harder about our affinity for people in cages. It's a rather drastic step. I think our criminal justice system needs a little more creativity.

[kevingiampa]

10:31 AM on 08/06/2008

Corrected Version:

I guess I'm for the financial penalties, but is society going to be made any safer by putting Wesley Snipes in prison for three years? We have to start thinking a little harder about our affinity for putting people in cages. It's a rather drastic step. I think our criminal justice system needs a little more creativity.

[lexnekst]

04:09 PM on 08/06/2008

Seriously he got more time than Vick for killing dogs.

Who by the way got more time than R. kelly for molestation.

Messed up.

[wadenelson1]

09:39 AM on 08/06/2008

Since WHEN has someone been convicted of a crime been required to pay the costs of prosecution?

Where did this start, with the Spanish Inquisition?

[max08]

11:01 AM on 08/06/2008

Since they decided to make an example out of Snipes. And because he's black: harsher treatment.

[CKieffer]

07:44 PM on 08/06/2008

Versus because he is an actor who willfully did it three times? Is it easier to make it a racial issue versus one of personal accountability and playing by the same rules we all follow?

[lexnekst]

04:11 PM on 08/06/2008

Seriously. This is just excessive.

Imagine getting pulled over, then paying the ticket, then being told you owe for the paper the ticket is printed on & you owe the officer back pay for the time it took to write the ticket.

Don't want prosecution fees? Don't prosecute.

[CKieffer]

07:42 PM on 08/06/2008

Don't want to pay the prosecution fees? Don't break the law... willfully... three times.

I, as a tax payer, am thrilled they are going after the costs of prosecution - - as I would be equally thrilled if they went after people and their lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits against townships, corporations, school systems, etc., etc., etc.

Meanwhile, Snipes broke the law 3 times - - willfully. We don't punish anyone nearly enough for torturing animals but, the humiliation/loss of job/financial ruin that Vicks has is a damn good step in the right direction.

As for R. Kelly - - I don't know enough to say anything but, there must have been something to give the jury pause.

[hip dibler]

09:07 AM on 08/06/2008

passenger 57 your way out of that one...