Snipes: The OTD (Original Tax Defier) ...Throw Away The Key

APRIL 15 2008: The Department of Justice released it's sentencing memorandum, the document provided to the Probation Department and the court regarding the misdemeanor criminal tax crimes for which Mr. Wesly Snipes was earlier this year found guilty of having committed. In the memorandum, the Department urges the court to sentence Mr. Snipes to a term of 36 months imprisonment and a fine of at least $5 million dollars. This is, unbeknownst to most, in addition to the tax, interest and additions to tax he will be responsible for independent of the criminal tax consequences.

As you may recall,Mr. Snipes was acquitted of the felony charges against him and this recommendation for 3 years in jail and a five million dollar fine is for the three misdemeanor failure to file income tax return charges for which he was convicted.  The three years seems a bit harsh. It's not like he is Martha Stewart or some other dangerous criminal.

John M. Hanamirian