Snipes was convicted of failure to file taxes in 1999, 2000 and 2001, a misdemeanor. He is scheduled to report to McKean Federal Correctional Institution on Thursday to begin his sentence.
The 48-year old actor told Larry that he felt he was being made an
example of by the judge and prosecutors in the case. He explained that
his financial advisors were given power of attorney, in order to handle
his taxes for him.
Prosecutors said Snipes earned $40 million since 1999 but had filed no returns and had been involved in a tax resisters group
“This is another thing that has been misreported. It has been
framed that I was a conspirator and that I was an architect in a scheme
by an organization that has been characterized as tax protesters. The
press hasn’t reported that I was a client of people who I trusted [who]
had knowledge and expertise in the areas of tax law that would protect
my interests,” Snipes said.
Frank Tuttle, who served as a juror in Snipes’ trial, told CNN
that several jurors had already made their minds up that the actor was
guilty before the trial even began.
“There was one juror that said they knew Mr Snipes was guilty when
they saw him during jury selection. I told the juror that was not
right, and it went against what the judge had told us before the trial
was to begin. Two others then agreed, and said that they thought he was
guilty when they first saw him, before the trial began.
We were deadlocked on our decision about Mr Snipes before this happened.
I was not expecting to hear that from a juror and most jurors felt the
same. That’s when a deal was made to find him guilty on the failure to
file taxes [a misdemeanor]. And not the federal tax evasion charge. We
did not think he would go to jail.” Tuttle stated.
Snipes became a household name by starring in the films, New Jack City, White Men Can’t Jump and Blade.
His only hope of avoiding jail tme is a last minute reprieve by the Supreme Court.
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