The Tax Man cometh...

Wesley told the judge, "I do not accept this sentence". To which the judge said, "You may not accept it, but you'll serve it".

I can almost picture Wesley standing up in the courtroom yelling, "This court owes an apology. An apology, judge".

OCALA, Fla. — A federal judge has sentenced action star Wesley Snipes to the maximum three-year sentence on tax charges.

Prosecutors had requested the maximum three-years, one year for each of Snipes' convictions of willfully failing to file a tax return.

Snipes' attorneys had argued for a shorter sentence during the penalty phase, which lasted the until the early evening. A jury found him guilty in February of willfully failing to file taxes for three years, in which the government said he owed $2.7 million.

But Snipes' attorneys said in court his tax liability was only $228,000. Even if U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges accepted their argument, sentencing enhancements put Snipes within range of the three-year prison term prosecutors wanted.

Snipes was acquitted of three identical misdemeanors and two felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy.

The actor's attorneys said the government's sentencing guidelines aren't fair for tax convictions like his. They wanted him let off with no prison and no fine.

Snipes' lawyers offered three dozen letters from family members, friends and even fellow actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington attesting to his good character. They argued he should get only probation, because all three convictions were misdemeanors and the actor had no previous criminal record.

A recommendation letter from Woody Harrelson. That's worth, well-uh...nothing.

The judge should have thrown in an extra 12 months for "The Fan."

He better watch out for big bubba while he's in prison.

You know you're pretty bad off if Woody is a character witness for you. Along with tax fraud Woody can tell the judge how Wesley helped him grow hemp.

White Men Can't Hump

Snipes will probably be the sexual predator.

Is he going to actually serve time? Does the Celebrity Exemption apply?

He was found guilty in Federal Court. There are no exemptions there.

No appeals for reviewing the sentence possible?

Serves him right. I like watching his movies, but I have definitey lost respect for the guy. We all have to pay taxes, so he has no excuse especially with the money he makes. That is total Bullshit!

Any appeal would be a function of what he and his attorney determine was a violation of due process.

Appeals, based on the discretionary aspects of sentencing are rarely successful. The sentences fell within the guidelines, so I don't think he has much hope, other than early parole.

okay, now that we have the expert in the discussion, let me ask another question Is there a law that specifies that the same punishment should be given for two identical crimes?

...perhaps Woody forwarded a clip or two from "Natural Born Killers" with his letter...

You want to make the money, you have to pay the money!

ds

As Kly pointed out, there are federal sentencing gudelines and some discretion within those guidlines.