Wesley Snipes Indicted

[Palermo]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Movie actor Wesley Snipes was indicted Tuesday on eight counts of tax fraud accusing him of bilking $12 million from the government in false refund claims.

Snipes, 44, also failed to file tax returns for six years, according to an indictment unsealed in Tampa, Fla.

Federal prosecutors said Snipes fraudulently claimed the refunds in 1996 and 1997. It also charged him with failure to file returns between 1999 and 2004.

According to the indictment, Snipes had his taxes prepared by accountants with a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients. As part of the deal, the indictment alleges, the firm, American Rights Litigators, would receive 20 percent of refunds from clients.

Snipes faces a maximum of 16 years in prison.

[suede]

whoa

Don't know what to say to that one - hmm wonder how that will play out.

[Tater Tot]

What a dumb ass.

[Beeyotch]

Okay, how is it *he* gets caught but none of the other stars--who, let's not kid ourselves, surely have questionable tax filing practices--do?

He can't possibly be any dumber than other celebrities. Maybe he's not the only one who will be named in the case with this accounting company...

[greysfang]

How could ANYONE famous think they IRS doesn't know who the hell they are. This is just mindboggling.

[KrisNine]

A lot of celebrities probably have questionable tax filings, but not filing them for 5 years??? That is just a dumbass! No one can get away with that, I don't care who you are.

[Goose]

Additional information:

WASHINGTON -- Actor Wesley Snipes was indicted Tuesday on eight counts of tax fraud accusing him of trying to cheat the government of $12 million in false refund claims.
Snipes, 44, also failed to file tax returns for six years, according to an indictment unsealed in Tampa, Fla.
Federal prosecutors said that Snipes fraudulently claimed refunds totaling nearly $12 million in 1996 and 1997 on income taxes already paid. The indictment also charged him with failure to file returns between 1999 and 2004.
According to the indictment, Snipes had his taxes prepared by accountants with a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients. As part of the deal, the indictment alleges, the firm, American Rights Litigators, would receive 20 percent of refunds from clients.
Snipes faces a maximum of 16 years in prison.
Snipes, who had a home in Windermere, Fla., has not been arrested because authorities don't know where he is, the IRS said.
In 2002, the Justice Department sued a Florida tax preparer who it said filed bogus tax refund claims, including a $7.3 million demand for Snipes.
Snipes was not named as a defendant in that case, but the lawsuit said the preparer's largest claim was an amended income tax return filed on behalf of the actor and dated April 14, 2001. The return requested a $7,360,755 refund for taxes paid in 1997. The return said that Snipes' adjusted gross income was zero, according to the lawsuit.
It said the preparer, Douglas P. Rosile Sr., told clients that only income from foreign sources was subject to taxation. The resolution of that lawsuit could not be immediately determined.
Snipes is the star of the star of the "Blade" trilogy and as well as films such as Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever," and the 1992 blockbuster, "White Men Can't Jump."
In 2005, South Africa refused to admit him after officials said he tried to enter the country with a forged passport.
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article...GT1=7701&mpc=1

[AgentOrange]

That's just how they got Willie Nelson. Poor Wes, I liked him in the Blade series.

[Grimmlok]

Don't feel too sorry for him.

He beats women and is generally a total fuckwit.

On top of that, the dude is really really short.

[greysfang]

And he was one FUGLY woman in Wong Foo.

[ourmaninBusan]

I hate to say this but there is a special tax exemption for entertainers.
I'm certain that all they have to do is incorporate and they can claim
all kinds of deductions.

But of course, you still have to file a return saying, "I owe U $0."

[LynnieD]

I know someone who was also indicted and eventually convicted of all sorts of different tax frauds......he spent a year in jail. This is no joke. HE could be going away for awhile......

[Grimmlok]

That'd be a shame, however will the cinema industry cope..

[Palermo]

Isn't he the one who was always rumored to have hit Halle Barry when they were dating, causing her to lose her hearing in one ear? I always heard that about him

[LynnieD]

^^Yea, that was the rumor. Of course he denies it.

The guy is so not relevant any longer that it's laughable.