NEWS: WESLEY SNIPES GETS 3 YEARS
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wesley Snipes pictured with family earlier this month in NYC. ( Photos: Splash News )
Actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison and fined up to $5 million on tax evasion charges on Thursday. It was the maximum sentence possible under federal sentencing guidelines. He didn’t have to turn himself in immediately. The judge ruled he could surrender at a later date.
“The law is very clear: People must pay their taxes,” Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Douglas Shulman said. “There is no secret formula that eliminates a person’s tax obligations.” [READ MORE]
WAS THE SENTENCING FAIR?
- YEP, HE SHOULD HAVE PAID HIS TAXES! (53%, 3,453 Votes)
- NOPE, THEY WERE WRONG FOR THAT! (31%, 2,008 Votes)
- WHO CARES! (17%, 1,102 Votes)
Total Voters: 6,563









128 Comments
COMMENT PAGES: [1] 2 » Show All
1.
Bree
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Damn, Wes!
2.
UnHuh
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Why couldnt they just make him pay it….the system always so quick to lock somebody up. They act like he out there killing people.
3.
ebocka
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
ol big dummy, just pay the taxes, yo got the money, i wish i had the money to even have to pay 2.7 million,what an idiot
4.
J. Lewis (My dick is like ginger ale)
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I just got through reading this on yahoo and I was like I thought he got cleared on these charges but it was some other charges like tax fraud and 4 other charges. 3 years of no damn straight to DVD movies…what am I gonna do on the weekends?
Don’t worry Wesley about being somebody bitch, everybody saw ‘To Wong Foo’
5.
CALIFORNIA LUV
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
White folks want us to know, no matter how high you climb, we pullin’ ya’ll’s asses down every damn time. What he did was wrong, but 3 years plus payment. Take heed…Y-T ain’t playing.
6.
MaxAMillion
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Good, I just had to cut a check to pay my taxes last week and I don’t make that much money. Wesley Snipes makes a ton of money and he should have been paying taxes like everyone else. I am tired of the rich catching breaks.
7.
Naw Son Respect The Black MAN!
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Bump that! Taxes are too damn high.
If he was the color of his wife, I believe in my heart like mother love, he would have gotten 2 days in that bitch.
Cops in my town of NYC gunned down an unarmed man name Sean Bell, they will probably get less time, if even convicted, then Wesley.
Damn Nuccka!
8.
jscene
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I COULD CARELESS ABOUT HIM, JUST AS HE COULD CARELESS ABOUT BLACK WOMEN…..KARMA IS BITCH….
P.S. DON’T DROP THE SOAP…LOL
9.
mz influential
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
wow!
10.
damn
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
this ain’t a white or black thing. that dumb fool should have paid his taxes. the gov’t is already watching his ass already, why make it harder on yourself?
THA’TS WHAT YOU GET WESLEY, I DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR YOUR ASS AT ALL!
good night all.
11.
mskendra
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
#5 i feel the same way. why should he get breaks and he is rich? he deserves whatever he gets…
his kids are adorable!
12.
allabouttheAries
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Ooops!
13.
allabouttheAries
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
…and LMAO at #3
14.
CHRISTELLE
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
i HATE THIS BASTARD!! HE IS THE ONE THAT ABUSES OF HALLE! KARMA IS A BITCH!
15.
african_queen
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
well thats what happens when you being stingy with your money
remember kids pay your taxes
16.
Prettygirl90221
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
That’s exactly what Wesley Snipes get! You were not thinking of your family moving money out of country illegally. Hope he has time to reflect inside.
17.
Dame
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I don’t feel bad for Wesley although he had Denzel and em write character statements for him. He should have paid his taxes he got the money. Nino Brown has gone down.
18.
J. Lewis (My dick is like ginger ale)
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
LOL his wife look like LaToya Jackson (the fine version)…I’ll play stepdaddy while you locked down homie
19.
shannon
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
omg!!! that really sucks but at the same time he should pay his taxes!!! everyone else do!!!
20.
J. Lewis (My dick is like ginger ale)
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
What up Dame!!! What happened to that “Don’t talk to me you know better”…Jay-Z is a trip lol
21.
clarkthink
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Damn………..They got Nino Brown……..rock-a-bye baby.
22.
makesmewantaholler
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
this is that gov’t where bush and his gangsters have robbed america mob style, right in front of our faces. and w/ the air arrogance to let you know there is nothing you [americas] can do about it. where is the tax money on that 363 tons of cold hard cash that was under the guidance of paul bremmer that disappeared in iraq? 12 billion dollars that just vanished in thin air. and no ones held accountable. tell that judge who sentenced snipes go after the real crooks. but anybody who else crosses this gov’t will pay except the THEIVES IN THE TEMPLE this gov’t. is like the fox guarding the HEN HOUSE . its a damn shame . but like john gotti if you beat the system once you’ve might have won the battle, but the war is not over .they will get you.
23.
Dame
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
@J.Lewis since I forgot my password I have to type my name in all the time and I been typing it all day my fingers are numb lol.
U know I adore Jay yes I am a stan. Yes Jay is a mess u know he gangsta!!
24.
ladytroublesome
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Should’ve paid his damn taxes…Sucks for him.
25.
BiB
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Concrete I can’t respond to your poll. If there was a choice such as: Yes, he should pay his taxes however the sentence was harsh. Jail time away from your kids/wife AND 5 million!? The judge (I am sure is not Black) is VERY jealous that a Black man has more money than he probably will ever have. It’s not fair how Black ppl get harsh sentences. I hope the judge REAPS what he has SOWN.
26.
Cerone
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I wonder what Halle’s reaction was after seeing this piece of news…
27.
Have Not Thought of a New User Name
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I seen this on CNN, he told the court his advisor told him he didn’t have to pay taxes. I want to know what made him believe that and then repeat it. He knew he had to pay taxes, they putting Ronald Isley in jail for he know he going. Martha Stewart went to jail something more stupid than this so he should of knew he was going.
28.
Burn Some White Trash
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Ha thats what that stupid white loving N gets.Toss all them Whitey loving N,s in there with him.
29.
STLCHICK
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
They were not wrong for their sentencing. I mean he committed a crime and now he has to pay the consequences. It’s too bad though because he has a family.
30.
GODs 13th Disciple
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
HAHA
31.
Bittersweets
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Feel sorry for him that the judge gave him the maximum, but at the same time I thinking that someone as prominent as Wesley Snipes should have known better. How could he possibly feel that he could get away without paying taxes on all the money he makes. He could at least have taken the chance and made up some bogus deductions and had them denied… but not to file??? makes the man wanna say: Negro who art thou?
32.
Deena
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
What goes around comes around. Abusive punk. Messed Halle ear up and everything. Wrong behavior never goes unpunished even if it is years later. Karma will always come back.
33.
John Austin personal trainers
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Don’t know if I would have used Woody Harrelson as a character witness.
34.
que
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
he gets no sympathy from me with his self-hating ass. this should show you that no matter how proper your dialect, how much you hate the black cootchie you came out of and black women in general, and how much you love them crackas you’re still a nigger!
good luck motherfucker, hope your shit hole is nice and firm with your black ass!
35.
VickieD
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I guess he shouldn’t have “bet on black.”
36.
WYTWANTSYOU
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I totally agree with number 4. Remi Ma, Foxy Brown, Lil’Kim, Mike Tyson, Tu-Pac…and that’s just to name a few. Your black a@! better act right if you’re rich. W T don’t appreciate black folk that make more money than them. Although Wesley should’ve filed his damn taxes. I just can’t get over the year per missed “filed” taxes. Hell I can take them to a boatload of white and black folk that haven’t filed their taxes for like 4 years.
37.
msblknasty1
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
…. he didnt think about his family when he was fucking wiff uncle sam // maybe he can think about halle’s eardrum while he is in there … i also heard that denzel wrote a letter to the judge on his behalf lololol…..ok denzel mayvbe the judge never seen any of your movies or maybe he did lololol
38.
ThinkAboutIt
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
He was originally facing 25 years… so 3 is not so bad.
Bottom line, whether you agree with the law or not, you ain’t above the law.
Only 2 things sure in this world.. death and taxes.
39.
pretteyeyez
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I don’t feel sorry for him. Heck, I have to pay my taxes and he makes waaaayyyy more $$$$ than I do!
40.
NYC
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I’m sure he’s gonna get Jean Strahaned by his wife too. Womp womp
41.
STUPID PEOPLE
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
AHHHHAAAHHHAAA. WHAT WOULD BUDDAH DO?
42.
Funkyblackchick
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Hmmm…
Remember that money he made from that crappy movie, “Undisputed” with Ving Rhames..LMAO!
Should have paid taxes on that too.
As a matter of fact, can I get my $10.00 back that I paid to see it?
Maybe he’ll become the boxing champ in federal prison now?
Life imitating art.
43.
cdnyc
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I had to pay taxes this year. I hated writing that check to the IRS. But you know what…I did it? It doesn’t matter if I think taxes are unfair or too high. That is irrelevant at this point.
One thing about the IRS…they will get their money. Either voluntarily or they will take it from you!!! Period!!!
Marc Anthony was in trouble with the IRS last year. I think he owed $5mil. He said he THOUGHT his accountants were filing his taxes. But when he found out they weren’t and that he owed the IRS…he paid them. He didn’t try to get out of it like some people. As a result, Marc Anthony is at home with his wife and newborn twins!!!
I hope this serves as a warning to other celebs who think they can get over on the IRS. They will get their money one way or another!!!
44.
ja
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Wow it’s funny how it’s Bush’s fault Wesly didn’t pay his taxes. You have to pay your taxes. All you obama folk should understand ( where do ya’ll think his is going to get all this money for the so call “free health care” ) The real crime is why R kelly and that little girls parents aren’t in jail, or why a convited drug dealer is caught with illiegal gun and is sentence to talk to kids. I bet his speech is like” yea I made money selling drugs, yea I got kids by everybody, yea I do drugs…. what was I say, Oh yea stay in school” I say commit a crime go to jail do not pass go, dont sit in your house on house arrest. Mc Cain 08
45.
chocolatebee
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
yes a crime is a crime. i know he should have paid his taxes but you got white girls out here drinking under the influence of drugs and alchohol and all they get is a slap on the wrist and a stint in rehab. i by far am not a wesley snipes fan being that he is not a fan of mine(hint my name) but i still think everyone should be sentenced according to their crime. period
46.
nicholelibra
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Oh damn, so Wesley was the one who beat Halle? I feel no sympathy for him (not that I did before).
If Uncle Sam has his hand so far down my pocket that he’s elbow deep, then why should Wesley dodge the responsibility?
47.
chitown-ken
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Snipes is going to jail because hes famous the prosecutors wanted to make an example of him because hes a high profile .So in other words his going to jail is getting special treatment.
48.
flatbush vixen
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
BIG STUPID DUMMY!! ah ha thats what u get when u think ur 2 big 4 the law, take that SELL OUT!!!
49.
EffDat
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
the Government cares more about money than they do human lives. if he had killed someone he would have gotten less time than that
50.
MIKEY-ROCKS-luv's YE
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
OH WELL WHAT HE GET.HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING ANYWAY I NEVER LIKE HIS ASS ANYWAY CUZ HE WAS ALWAYS DOWNING BLACK WOMAN SAYING HE WOULD NEVA DATE US CUZ WE TOO GHETTO etc……… NEGRO PLEASE
51.
Emma V's Great-Grandaughter
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
He ain”t nothing but a hasbeen and deserves to go to jail.
52.
Justice96
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I’m with you on that one #8!!
53.
CRIP TALK
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
FUCK THE GOVERNMENT AND ALL THOSE WHITE DEVILS UP IN THERE THAT COMMIT CORPORATE CRIMES ON A DAILY BASIS. ALL OF THOSE DEVILS SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL FOR SLAVERY AND DISCRIMINATION TO BLACKS. WHERE THE FUCK IS MY 40 ACRES AND A MULE YOU FUCK BITCHES? THIS IS WHY AMERICAN IS THE MOST HATED COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD AND MUTHA FUCKAS WANT TO COME OVER HERE AND BLOW US THE FUCK UP. IT’S BECAUSE THIS BACKWARDS ASS RACIST COUNTRY IS RUN BY STUPID ASS CORPORATE WHITE THUGS WHO DON’T KNOW SHIT AND WANT THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD TO BE LILLY WHITE. FUCK YOU PECKER WOODS!! FREE WESLEY SNIPES!!
54.
YELLAANDSLIM
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
MILLIONAIRES WHO WON’T PAY TAXES….E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY
55.
PrettyYoungThang
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
HE’S THE REASON HALLE BERRY IS PARTIALLY DEAF—WOMAN BEATER!! WE’LL SEE WHO GETS BEAT NOW…THE BIG HOUSE AIN’T NO JOKE, YOU WORTHLESS IDIOT!
56.
Khadijah
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
Wow. He should have been paying his taxes, but I feel that 3 years In PRISON is a bit much…
57.
water
Thursday, April 24, 2008 /
I think he got the maximum because he had failed to pay over a long long time…It wasn’t like he didn’t pay by the 15th or failed to get on a payment plan. He just refused to pay and the man stuck it to him. I guess it wasn’t enough to ruin his credit.
58.
Lori
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Better start on Blade 100-200 you gonna need the money!
59.
Danni
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
damn..idk how i feel about this one..i mean, locking him up like he’s a murderer//rapist?? or how bout r kelly ass still free as you and me?? idkk man..the man is busy..lol
60.
WillPwr
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Hell, if I gotta pay taxes with my broke @$$ everybody should!
61.
Nope
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
There are people doing much worse than not paying taxes and getting much less time. Anyone remember the all the young celebutantes and their DUIs? Little Miss Hilton ring a bell to anyone? Lionel’s daughter? Well, they could have KILLED SOMEONE, themselves included, and they get to take a picture and check right out. But Wesley has to give Uncle Sam the money, so why should he have to do three years too?
62.
licia
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
lol @ you guys, this isn’t a conspiracy to bring another black celeb down. if you dont pay the IRS, they will take you down.
an old friend was self employed and never reported her earnings cause she felt the government would never find her out. she didnt file for years and ended up getting 2 years in prison. point of the story is no matter who you are, you better pay your taxes cause the government will take your ass to the cleaners.
i’m more annoyed with wesley as a rich man thinking he’s above the law, i hope he enjoys prison!
63.
well, at least this isn't fabricated... *cough*akon*cough*
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Not to play the race card….but um, if he wasn’t as dark his ass is, he wouldn’t be there no damn three years… “try to make an example” my ass
and i wonder how long wifey will be with him now that he’s getting lockedup?
64.
DANI
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
DID HE THINK HE WAS GOING TO GET AWAY WITH IT??
I LIVE IN LONDON AND EVEN I KNOW YOU DON’T PLAY THAT, GREEDY ASS.
TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, BUT GOING TO PRISON IS A HIGHER COST. FUCK THAT! AND U DIDN’T KILL, RAPE OR KIDNAP ANYONE?
IDIOT.
HAHAHHA @ JSCENE “HE DON’T CARE ABOUT BLACK WOMEN.”
THAT’S NOT WHY HE’S GET PUNISHED.
65.
honolulu city lights
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Wesley Snipes is a “tax denier.” He belongs to a group of people who believe that there is nothing in the Constitution that requires people to pay taxes and that the IRS itself is an illegal agency. Tax deniers set up bogus companies and, like Snipes, send money to off-shore accounts. He didn’t just fail to pay millions in taxes, he actively tried hide his money. He ain’t like the rest of us, he better.
He didn’t get the three year sentence becuz he’s black. He got it becuz he’s a famous actor and the judge wanted to make an example that people would notice. Federal judges hate tax deniers; the judges have to pay taxes and their records are made public.
I’ve represented a few of these people in court and they just don’t get that the law applies to everyone, equally.
Okay, my rant is over.
66.
Phillyjawn
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Damn, the mafia got him. No he shouldn’t get 3 years in jail, nowhere in the law does it state that you have to pay income taxes. He got pimped.
67.
Ya.Boy.PB
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Now I am all about the law….but they didn’t have to give him the maxium sentence, since he never been in any other trouble….as I always the system is set up for African Americans to fail already so why do something thats going to increase your chances….lesson learn PAY YOUR TAXES! PPL
68.
Phillyjawn
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
After reading the majority of the comments I have to say most people don’t know their basic rights. If this case would have went to the supreme court, most likely he would have been acquitted. There’s no law anywhere, constitution or IRS handbook that says we have to pay taxes. They charge taxes on almost everything we buy i.e. gas. The tax they receive from gas is supposed to go toward the building of roads, that includes the upkeep. So, in essence, I ain’t paying shit if I don’t have to.
69.
Mz_K
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
#2 & 5, you both sound ignorant as hell. HE BROKE THE LAW. You’re acting as if he got served an unfit sentence like 40 years or some shit. Stop making EXCUSES for OUR ppl and their bad bhvr. He fucked up and now he gotta pay… just like anybody else. It wasn’t about him being black or “the white man” so stop being delusional and wake the hell up.
70.
Mz_K
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Also to Jawn… wtf r u smoking LMAO? You can’t have crimes WITHOUT laws, jackass. Do you think if the BULLSHIT you are saying is true… his lawyers wouldn’t have used that argument and he would be sitting pretty at home? I think you’re a little confused BUT there is A LAW stating EVERYONE with income has to file taxes. Either they take it out of your check and you get a rebate later OR they take out even more after you file…. YOU STILL HAVE TO FILE your taxes with the possibility you’ll pay. Get it? Got it? Good…. Since you’re so sure about this theory, let’s test it. I purpose contacting the IRS to investigate you (just because you sound like you don’t file taxes). If my assumption is right and you haven’t been filing… they’re gonna arrest your ass. Once they do I want you to remember your theory and test that in an actual court (if you are ordered to pay back taxes). If you aren’t convicted, I’ll pay your damn taxes… for life. If you ARE, I’ll just laugh because I was right. How about that?
71.
Martinalutherking
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Guess what came back to bite you in the ass?! He made all those disrespectful comments about black women, putting us down and saying Asian women were better. Let’s see who stands by him now…lol! They all bite the dust after they disrespect us, first OJ, Rodman, then Kobe, now Wesley…lol…Tiger better get ready cause he is next. Oh, P.S. - Billy Blanks chick kicked his ass to the curb.
Hmmmmmm, karma is a bitch!
72.
Bittersweets
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
I was shocked to see what a large portion of the property taxes on my condo goes to fund the schools since I do not have any kids in school. Wesley Snipes has kids.I know he can afford to privately school them. but he may be more than a little selfish. People who work for minimun wages have to pay taxes. Who is to pay for the upkeep of the community, the Iraq war,? why do the little people have to carry the heavy load all the time.
73.
nifey
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
i tink 3 yrs is 2 much
74.
L A Y L A
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Damn Wesley! He went to my high school and he aint representin J-High right!!!!
75.
Phillyjawn
Friday, April 25, 2008 /
Mr_K
Let me reiterate my comment for the laymen-such as yourself. In the IRS handbook, there’s no law that says income tax is mandatory, not even in the constitution. Legally the govt can’t put a price on wages, you dumb broad. What the govt is basically doing is charging you for working. The 16th amendment is kind of vague but the supreme ruled that it was referring to Corporate wages not individual wages. So, when it’s all said and done, Tax courts overruling a supreme court ruling and enforcing a fraudulent law. Also this is coming from someone who has done research on the subject, unlike yourself, clearly. Anyway, continue being an unlawful abiding citizen like a good little idiot.
Another thing, taxes you pay on your income don’t go towards paying things like schools and prisons. GOT THAT?
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