(The full list here)
Leona Helmsley, the very wealthy hotelier who was once known as the "Queen of Mean," wasquoted as telling a housekeeper, "We don't pay taxes, only the little people pay taxes."
The billionaire was later convicted of 33 felony counts of trying to defraud the government, including mailfraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns. She served 18 months in prison.
Five years ago after she died at the ripe old age of 87, she left $12 million to a dog named Trouble, her beloved poodle. The GOP doesn't want to tax these people for capital gains orinheritances, but instead wants to tax low-income Americans to help fund a $700 billion military budget,two wars, and tax cuts for the rich.
The 1992 successful film "Passenger 57" starring Monroe Hutchen (aka Wesley Snipes)made him a popular and wealthy action hero icon. Sixteen years later on April 24, 2008he was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to file income tax returns.
On November 19, 2010 Snipes was ordered to start serving his three-year prison sentence by a federal judge who rejected theHollywood star's bid for a new trial. Snipes had already lost his appeal of the prison sentence stemming from his 2008 conviction in Judge Hodges' Ocala, Florida courton three counts of "willful failure to file tax returns" for 1999 through 2001on $7 million.
Before that, the actor remained free on bail while his attorneys had been busy filing one appeal after anothertrying to keep him out of prison. However, those attempts fell on deaf ears, withthe Florida judge rejecting his requests, including a Hail Mary petition for a new trial.
At his sentencing, prosecutors said Snipes, a resident of Windermere, Florida, had earned more than $38 million since 1999 but hadfiled no tax returns or paid any taxes through October 2006
In a television appearance on December 7, 2010, Snipes was asked by CNN's Larry King if he was nervous about going to prison, andhe admitted his trepidation about doing time.
"I think any man would be nervous," Snipes said. "Given the length of time that they are suggesting that I be away from my family,away from my profession, away from my ability to provide for my family and for those who have depended upon me to contribute tosociety ... I think anyone would be nervous about that."
Two days later on December 9, 2010, Snipes reported to federal prison to begin his three-year sentence. A listing for Snipes is posted on theFederal Bureau of Prisons website and has his prisoner ID/registration numberlisted as 43355-018
Name | Register # | Age-Race-Sex | Release Date | Location |
WESLEY TRENT SNIPES | 43355-018 | 49-Black-M | 07-19-2013 | MCKEAN FCI |
The Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) - McKean is a medium security facility housing male inmates. FCI McKean is located innorthwest Pennsylvania between Bradford and Kane, Pennsylvania. It is situated 90 miles south of Buffalo, New York, off Route 59;and approximately 1/4 mile east of the intersection of State Route 59 and U.S. Route 219.
On May 16th, 2011 BlackMediaSCOOP reported, "Itain't looking good for actor Wesley Snipes and his family. BMS has learned he may be on the verge of losing his mansion in Alpine, NJ.
Word is he’s broke and trying to come up with $1.6 million to refinance the home. A person close to Wesley’s camp tells us “All ofWesley’s bank accounts are wiped out. His four kids have nothing to live on,” the source said. Snipes’ attorney is busy trying to find amortgage company that would be willing to refinance the house.
Sources say the loan would have balloon interest payments that Snipes would have to pay in full when he gets out of jail in 2013.Snipes is working to land an advance on a movie deal (with Spike Lee?), while his lawyer is trying to pin down the income Snipesmakes from film and TV residuals and merchandising."
On June 6, 2011, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear Snipes' appeal. Snipes is still being held at the FederalCorrectional Institution - McKean and is scheduled for release on July 19, 2013.
On November 11, 2011 Reuters reported that though he is already in jail for tax evasion, the Blade star is being sued by credit cardcompany American Express, which claims that the actor racked up a $29,343 bill with them when he was still walkingfree. AmEx is seeking Snipes's unpaid balance, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.
On March 8, 2012 director Spike Lee urged the fans of his incarcerated friend Wesley Snipes to send letters of encouragement to theactor to keep his spirits up during his stint for tax evasion. The filmmaker, who directed Snipes in “Jungle Fever,” visited the actor at the Pennsylvania prison and revealed that Snipes is “in greatshape mentally, physically and spiritually.” However, Lee is still encouraging the actor’s fans to keep him entertained.
“Send Your Prayers And Blessings To Our Brother Mr Wesley Snipes. Your Letters Will Mean The World To Him,” Lee tweeted.
Snipes has always maintained his innocence and insists he was duped by tax advisors.
The following month on April 13, 2012 Business Insiderreported that "unless you're a true tax evader à la the great Wesley Snipes, the IRS won't comeafter you. People get worried about prison, but the IRS doesn't want to prosecute these cases, even if the taxpayer's beingwillful for silly reasons. That said, if there's a pattern of willfulness, and you show no remorse, and the IRS feels like you need to be taughta lesson, well, get ready to join Wesley Snipes."
Mister Snipes had once inferred that his prosecution may have been race-basedand that he was being made an example of -- but Wesley Snipes is but one of many rich and famousHollywood-types that was pursued for evading taxes.
On May 1st, 2012 Netflix Instant began featuring "Passenger 57"(It's about time! It's already been on HBO for ten years!)
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Other Rich and Famous Tax Dodgers
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So you see Mister Snipes, it's not just talented black male AmericanHollywood actors that are prosecuted for income tax evasion. AlCapone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for $215,000 in back taxes.
But it's odd that Patricia Spottedcrow, a mother and first time offender from Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for selling $30 worth of marijuana,yet the bankers who stole trillions of dollars didn't spend one single day injail..
And if you're reading this Mister Snipes, please make a generous donation tomy PayPal account (button located near the top right of this page). I'm a56-year-old unemployed Las Vegas casino bartender who's been out of work for almost4 years. (They thought I was too old! The bastards!) Oremail if you'd like...maybe you can offer me a good-paying job when you getout.
- Here's a list of CEOs, more Hollywood celebrities and athletics and what they earn
- See some of these rich and famous people at The White House Correspondents Dinner
Also see my posts:
- Murder and Betrayal of the Rich and Famous
- Subsidies of the Rich and Famous
My related posts on tax evasion:
- Mitt Romney: Lobbyists, Special Tax Rates & Tax Evasion
- GOP Claims Tax Evasion as Excuse to Cut Taxes
- How Mitt Romney & the 1% Evades Taxes
- How CEOs are Rewarded for Fraud
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