Thursday April 24, 2008

Actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in jail Thursday on charges of tax evasion.

In February, a Florida jury had found the ‘Jungle Fever’ star guilty of failing to stump up federal taxes on his hefty income — $2.7 million — from blockbusters such as Blade and Blade: Trinity between 1999 and 2004.

Snipes’ attorneys had claimed in the Florida court that he owned only $228,000.

Snipes, 45, was acquitted of three identical counts and two felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy.

Three years in prison was the maximum sentence. Prosecutors had also sought a $5 million fine.

He was charged in 2006 along with a known tax protester and a former accountant who is said to have previously been banned from preparing tax returns for clients.

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