Judge sentences Wesley Snipes to 3 years for tax convictions

[gatorboy]

http://omg.yahoo.com/judge-sentences-snipes-to-3-years-for-tax-convictions/news/8498?nc

OCALA, Fla. - Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison on tax charges Thursday, a victory for prosecutors who sought to make an example of the action star by aggressively pursuing the maximum penalty.

Snipes' lawyers had spent much of the day in court offering dozens of letters from family members, friends — even fellow actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington — attesting to the good character of the "Blade" star and asking for leniency. They argued he should get only probation because his three convictions were all misdemeanors and the actor had no previous criminal record.

But U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges said Snipes exhibited a "history of contempt over a period of time" for U.S. tax laws, and granted prosecutors the three year sentence they requested — one year for each of Snipes' convictions of willfully failing to file a tax return.

<snip>

Criminal tax prosecutions are relatively rare — usually the cases are handled in civil court, where the government has a lower burden of proof. Prosecutors said Snipes' case was important to send a message to would-be tax protesters not to test the government.

[DS1]

1. CAPOWNED!

:rofl:

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

2. I have a litle bit of a problem with them using him to "send a message"

I have no problem with him facing the same penalty as other tax evaders. Giving him the maximum sentence to "send a message" is bullshit.

[hyphenate]

4. amen

I just posted this to LBN. 3 misdemeanors, 3 years is bullshit. Judge has got to be racist.

[Deja Q]

3. Uh-oh. Wesley's credit rating just got 187'ed.

[Fresh_Start]

5. Good tax cheats shouldn't be able to get away with $$$ penalties

because then its advantageous to cheat since a percentage of cheaters get away with it.

Jail time sounds about right for all tax cheats (including the corporate CEOS who approve it for their companies)

[flashl]

6. His guy is still free ...

Countrywide CEO has $121.5 mln gain, was paid $22.1 mln

NEW YORK, April 24 (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo realized $121.5 million from exercising stock options and was awarded $22.1 million of compensation in 2007, a year when the U.S. housing slump pummeled the nation's largest mortgage lender.

The awards came in a year Countrywide lost $704 million, its first loss in more than 30 years, and saw its shares decline 79 percent.

Mozilo, long criticized for his compensation packages, realized the option gains by acquiring and selling 4.92 million shares under a prearranged trading plan, Countrywide said in a Thursday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Reuters