Wesley Snipes Sentence

On April 24, 2008, actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion. He was found guilty in February for willfully failing to file taxes for three years, 1999 to 2001. Snipes' defense argued for a limited sentence, arguing that the actor owed only $228,000, rather than the government's claim of $2.7 million. Judge William Terrell Hodges agreed with the defense, but gave Snipes the maximum allowable penalty for that amount.

The Defense

The actor has children aged 1 to 19, and his defense claimed that taking him away from them for such a long time, during such crucial developmental years, was excessive punishment. Prosecutor Robert O’Neill countered that Snipes has become the figurehead for a movement to evade taxes, and had not shown significant "public remorse" for that organized campaign.

Co-defendants

Also awaiting sentencing are Snipes' tax advisors: Eddie Ray Kahn, previously convicted by the government for tax crimes, and Douglas Rosile, who was convicted in February of felony conspiracy and tax fraud, two charges for which Snipes himself was cleared.

Celebrity Support

Several celebrities filed "reference letters" and appeared at the sentencing trial on Snipes' behalf, including his frequent co-star Woody Harrelson, Denzel Washington, and TV judge Joe Brown. Harrelson and Snipes co-starred in their debut feature, Wildcats.

Upcoming Film

Snipes has already shot his next feature, the 2009 horror/western, Gallowwalker. Its release should be unaffected by the sentence.

Fast Facts

1. Snipes is 45 years old

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