A-list actor Wesley Snipes, who has appeared in dozens of films including the Blade trilogy, Demolition Man, and Passenger 57, was handed a maximum sentence of three years in his failure to file tax returns case Thursday.
United States District Judge William Terrell Hodges said Snipes exhibited a "history of contempt over a period of time" for the country's tax laws. He added, "In my mind these are serious crimes, albeit misdemeanors."
Assistant Attorney General Nathan J. Hochman of the Justice Department's Tax Division stated, "Snipes' long prison sentence should send a loud and crystal clear message to all tax defiers that if they engage in similar tax defier conduct, they face joining him."
Added United States Attorney Robert O'Neill, "The sentencing court sends the right message to the American taxpayer - you've got to pay your taxes. Rich, poor, it doesn't matter. We all pay our taxes."
According to court documents, Snipes had refused to pay taxes for the past ten years as a symbol of protesting the concept of taxation. His argument mirrored that of thousands of tax protestors nationwide who have steadfastly refused to pay their portion of taxes to the federal government. Many news organizations refer to such protestors as "fringe groups."
Indeed, Snipes himself claimed he was the victim of just such a fringe group. In a prepared statement in court before his sentencing, Snipes decried the handling of his personal finances by "crooked advisers," and that his wealth and celebrity attracted "wolves and jackals like flies are attracted to meat." The actor added, "I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance."
The wolves and jackals Snipes was referring to were his co-defendants: Douglas Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn. According to the Associated Press, "Kahn was the founder of American Rights Litigators, and a successor group, Guiding Light of God Ministries, that purported to help members legally avoid paying taxes." Snipes was one of his clients. The report added that "Rosile, a de-licensed accountant, prepared Snipes' paperwork." Rosile and Kahn were also convicted, but on felony counts. Kahn received the maximum of ten years, while Rosile received 4 1/2 years.
The day before the sentencing, several character witness statements were introduced into the United States Federal Court in Ocala, Florida, from some very famous people, including actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington. Harrelson's letter of commendation tended to ramble on about Snipes' on-set diplomacy while Washington likened his friend to "a mighty oak."
The looming specters of celebrity and race will inevitably rear their heads in regard to Snipes' sentencing. Television star Judge Joe Brown, who also prepared a character witness statement on behalf of Snipes, stated that his friend's actions were no worse than those committed by corporations who avoid paying taxes and receive little to no punishment. Many others are complaining about what they call a harsh sentence in comparison to white celebrities, such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, who have potentially put innocent lives at risk with their various automobile infractions.
Interestingly enough, the judge in the case made it apparent that Snipes was being hoisted up as a "lesson to be learned" based on his status as a high-profile celebrity. "One of the main purposes which drives selective prosecution in tax cases is deterrence," Judge Hodges said. "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."
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