Wesley Snipes Sentenced to 36 Months In Jail For Tax Fraud

Celebrity sensation Wesley Snipes was found not guilty of federal tax-fraud and conspiracy charges Friday, but was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return.

Snipes had faced up to 16 years in prison if convicted on all charges, but can now only get up to three years. The star and two co-defendants had been indicted in 2006 after Snipes stopped paying, using tax protest arguments long rejected by the courts.

Snipes sat emotionless as his verdict and sentence was read, and then nodded in relief. He refused to talk with reporters after the verdict, and is still liable for millions in taxes likely to be pursued in civil court.

Snipes was sentenced to 36 months in prison - the maximum sentence allowed. He was convicted on three misdemeanor charges for not filing his taxes. During the sentencing, Snipes apologized for his actions, but the judge indicated that a major reason for the maximum penalty was to deter others from trying something similar.

Various celebrities, including Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson, had presented the judge with letters and documentation asking for mercy on their friend.

See Also:

Wesley Snipes at StarLink
Samuel L. Jackson at StarLink
Denzel Washington at StarLink
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