Hollywood star Wesley Snipes was charged Tuesday with failing to pay taxes and conspiracy in an indictment that could put the versatile actor and producer behind bars for more than 40 years. Federal prosecutors in Tampa released an "an eight-count indictment charging Wesley Trent Snipes, formerly of Windermere, Florida; Eddie Ray Kahn, of Sorrento, Florida; and Douglas P. Rosile, of Venice, Florida, with conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and presenting a fraudulent claim for payment to the IRS."
"Each of the conspiracy and false claim charges carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment," prosecutors added, noting: "Snipes is also charged with six counts of failing to file income tax returns."
"Snipes also faces up to one year imprisonment on each charge of failing to file income tax returns," they said.
Snipes, known for his work in films such as "Jungle Fever", "Demolition Man" and "Blade" if convicted on all counts could sit out the rest of his working years in jail.
According to the indictment, Snipes, Kahn and Rosile tried "through dishonest means, to make it appear as if Snipes had no liability for federal income taxes, when, in fact, Snipes had such tax liabilities. As part of the scheme, the defendants allegedly prepared and filed two amended federal income tax returns for Snipes, fraudulently claiming refunds of 1996 and 1997 income taxes previously paid, totaling almost 12 million dollars."
"The indictment also alleges that Snipes did not file his 1999 through 2004 federal income tax returns, even though the law required him to do so," their statement said.
"Our system of government depends on citizens paying their fair share of taxes. Those who intentionally and unlawfully harass the IRS through deceit, trickery and fraud undermine the collection of revenue that is vital to every aspect of the operation of our government, including defense, the war on terror, health care, law enforcement and education," chief prosecutor Paul Perez said in Tampa.
