Fraudster Wesley Snipes Is Going To Prison, 3-Year Federal Sentence Imposed

The IRS tax fraud case against Wesley Snipes ended earlier today with the maximum punishment sentenced — 3-years in a federal lockup facility for failing to pay nearly $15 million in taxes, the result of trickery by diverting funds overseas. pwn3d! Snipes’ attorneys are planning to appeal the sentence, and he was allowed to surrender at a later date near his NJ home. Wesley also paid the IRS $5 million with a string of cheques, upon which was immediately deposited into federal accounts. You know why they did this, don’t you? To make sure his scamming ass wasn’t writing bad checks! I don’t blame ‘em.

A jury convicted Snipes on the misdemeanor charges February 1, but he was acquitted of more serious felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy. Jurors accepted his argument that he was innocently duped by errant tax advisers. But prosecutors, in their sentencing recommendation, said the jurors’ decision “has been portrayed in the mainstream media as a ‘victory’ for Snipes. The troubling implication of such coverage for the millions of average citizens who are aware of this case is that the rich and famous Wesley Snipes has ‘gotten away with it.’ In the end the criminal conduct of Snipes must not be seen in such a light.”

Wesley also attempted more snake-like tactics, in hopes of persuading a lenient sentence from the court, to no avail. Denzel Washington, Woody Harrelson, and TV Judges Joe Brown and Greg Mathis all wrote letters to the judge on his behalf, probably doing more harm than good. LOL…mighty oak?

In his letter, Washington said Snipes was “like a tree — a mighty oak … Many who know him have witnessed the fruit of his labors, have sat in his shade and even been protected by his presence. I am proud of him, proud to call him a fellow thespian and most importantly, proud to call him a friend.” Brown, who addressed the court on Thursday, likened Snipes to legendary actors, including Sidney Poitier, and said, “I have been something of a mentor to the young man.”

Then there’s Judge Greg Mathis, who says: “Unfortunately, it was his honest nature that forced him into these legalities” and “I can say from my personal experience as a Judge that people are always trying to manipulate and defraud people with a high profile status.”