Wesley Snipes Weighs Options: 'Don't Send Me Up the River, Yet'

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 8th 2010 06:24AM

A defiant Wesley Snipes sat down with Larry King on Tuesday night to talk about his tax-related conviction and his three-year jail sentence, which is due to begin later this week. The 'Blade' actor told King he believes there were irregularities in his case and said he plans to file a request with the Supreme Court to review them.

"We still have prayers out there, Larry, and we believe in miracles. Don't send me up the river, yet," he said on 'Larry King Live.'

Snipes said he relied on the advice of tax professionals and doesn't believe he deserves such a stiff sentence for failing to pay taxes. He also argued that his case was misrepresented in the media.

"Any man would be nervous if his liberty was at stake," Snipes told King when asked about going to jail. "Right now, I'm more upset and disappointed that the system seems to not be working for me."

Snipes didn't play the blame game with his financial team, but claimed that he wrongly relied on their advice for his affairs.

The 48-year-old 'White Men Can't Jump' star was convicted in 2008 in a Florida court on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file income tax returns.

Prosecutors in Snipes' case argued that the actor had not paid any taxes on the reported $38 million he earned since 1999. Although the star was acquitted of more serious felony charges, a Florida judge has ordered Snipes to begin serving his three-year sentence for his 2008 tax conviction.

Snipes is scheduled to serve his time at a federal prison in Pennsylvania.

Tags: Wesley Snipes

Comments

(25)

Wednesday 08 December

By robert lillard

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boo-hoo. while the system is in fact broken, snipes did in fact not pay his taxes.

By okbengad

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Oh yeah...he's being prosecuted because he's black. I suppose OJ didn't kill anybody either.I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via aged'ate.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it

By Zero

They're right! He saved paying millions in taxes!

By Thomas Hernon Sr.

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He should get the same as Charlie Rangal.
Charlie did worst then Snipes.

By kpingzing

I dont understand Martha Stewart didnt have this much time to to try to lie her way out of a jail sentence. Throw this deliquent in jail. Could this be because she is white and he is black.

By hattie

Oh let's not for get Willie Nelson he did no time it's only the blacks that go serve time for it.

By bill

So a guy who pays millions in taxes although he did not pay as much as the government wanted goes to jail but welfare cheats who pay NOTHING and steal tax payers money are put on a re-payment plan and NEVER go to jail. Ya, that makes sense!!!

By Woody

If Wesley goes to jail, how about all the politicians that cheated on their taxes go in with him? Remember all the obama buddies that didn't pay their taxes?

By johnson

No Black man has ever beaten the government! hey even Dred Scott lost!

By Prema

Is he kidding that there are prayers out there so Wesley doesn't go to jail? Kids starving, being abused, hungry, losing their homes and he thinks prayers should help him?? What a self absorbed idiot. Suck it up and face whatever has to be faced. Ignorance is no excuse. Be more involved in your own life and know who is doing what, when and why.

By YellowRose3218

I have a tough time feeling bad for anyone whos made millions, and didnt pay their taxes like the rest of the country has to do every year.

By Barbara

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I am sort of with Snipes on this. I have a feeling there are a lot of people who make a lot of money and trust the managing of it to others, sign whats put in front of them - and when you have a tax code that is thousands and thousands of pages it may be easy to err. And when you look at the difference between how Charlie Rangel is being treated and how Snipes is being treated - well i just dont think it's fair. I might fine Snipes but i would not put him in prison - that just makes the public pay for his maintenance which i read is about 50,000 a year per prisoner.

By HoneyVinegar

Snipes' excuse sounds alot like Rangel's......so let's just censure Snipes....LOL! Another case where what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander. If our reps in Washington can get away with no prison time for not paying their taxes then why can't other citizens get away with it too? Wesley, just pay your taxes fella.

By goatcars2

Let me be sure I understand Wesley....He doesn't pay his taxes for a jillion years because he feels the "system" is unjust...THEN he wants the "system" to work for him. Even a hollywood actor CAN'T be that dumb!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah...he's being prosecuted because he's black. I suppose OJ didn't kill anybody either.

By me

All of you people.~****Get over Mr.OJ. He's renting space in your heads.I shall not go further. end of line.

By Heyes

Wes... you go to jail tomrrow.... the Spreme Court is alittle busy and they arent going to bump you up over the other cases.... Be a man,you broke the law..now you get to do the time!!.. Hell Michael Vick didnt cry like you!!

By Nate

Another convicted "celebrity" who believes he can get away with his crime. He hid in Africa for 2 years in order to avoid prosecution. He did not pay taxes for 10 years. Who the hell does think he is and fooling? He is not stupid enough to believe he is innocent of his agregious crime? Face up POS and serve your time. Justice has been served, but not enough!

By Scotty

Poor Mr. Snipes...all his experts handling his accounts told him to not pay any taxes...now there's an excuse! The average American would go to jail for what you didn't pay. Have a nice time.

By Donna

I think this is ridiculous...... They are rail roading him for sureeeeeee. I am of the white race.. I think this is awful...

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