Oh yeah, about Wesley Snipes
I long ago stopped blogging about Wesley Snipes tax trial. Pretty damned boring actually. I mean, he was already found guilty and - beginning today - is now in process of being sentenced. His lawyers want probation only, but the judge may have other ideas.
OCALA - So far, at least, in the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges has made it clear that actor Wesley Snipes could be facing the maximum three-year prison term on three counts of failing to file his taxes.
During a session that began at 9:30 a.m., Hodges first discussed the pre-sentencing report for Snipes co-defendant Eddie Ray Kahn. Then, in a back-and-forth with lawyers, the judge discussed the reports for Snipes and his other co-defendant, former accountant Douglas Rosile.
Hodges indicated that the guidelines advised the maximum 10-year sentence for Kahn, the organizer of a tax-evasion scheme, on two felony counts.
********************
Hodges noted that if Snipes had been convicted of the felony he would be facing something like 15 years in prison instead of a possible three-year sentence.
He declined to give Snipes credit for "accepting responsibility" for the crimes by offering to plead guilty in August on one count of misdemeanor tax evasion and offering to pay his taxes.
Even accepting the defense's calculation of $228,000 for the government tax loss, Hodges said the guidelines still advised a sentencing range of 33 - 41 months.
He noted that the maximum three-year sentence - which is one year on each misdemeanor count - is "squarely in the middle of that sentencing range.
"Why should I go any further than that," Hodges asked.
Why indeed?
UPDATE (4/25/08)
As you all have heard, shortly after I posted yesterday, the judge did sentence Wesley to 3 years. And not to a Club Fed (supposedly).
I'm glad that's over.
OCALA - So far, at least, in the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges has made it clear that actor Wesley Snipes could be facing the maximum three-year prison term on three counts of failing to file his taxes.
During a session that began at 9:30 a.m., Hodges first discussed the pre-sentencing report for Snipes co-defendant Eddie Ray Kahn. Then, in a back-and-forth with lawyers, the judge discussed the reports for Snipes and his other co-defendant, former accountant Douglas Rosile.
Hodges indicated that the guidelines advised the maximum 10-year sentence for Kahn, the organizer of a tax-evasion scheme, on two felony counts.
********************
Hodges noted that if Snipes had been convicted of the felony he would be facing something like 15 years in prison instead of a possible three-year sentence.
He declined to give Snipes credit for "accepting responsibility" for the crimes by offering to plead guilty in August on one count of misdemeanor tax evasion and offering to pay his taxes.
Even accepting the defense's calculation of $228,000 for the government tax loss, Hodges said the guidelines still advised a sentencing range of 33 - 41 months.
He noted that the maximum three-year sentence - which is one year on each misdemeanor count - is "squarely in the middle of that sentencing range.
"Why should I go any further than that," Hodges asked.
Why indeed?
UPDATE (4/25/08)
As you all have heard, shortly after I posted yesterday, the judge did sentence Wesley to 3 years. And not to a Club Fed (supposedly).
I'm glad that's over.
posted by RightinFlorida | 5:54 PM
4 Comments:
Don’t know if I would have used Woody Harrelson as a character witness.
Absolutely right, John. If you're known by the company you keep, it was probably not a great idea to have Woody step up for you.
Call on your viewers/site visitors to join the democrats' protests and act like pissed-off Democrats. I’m calling for operation inflamer - stage, participate in, and fire-up protests in DC, FL, and MI !!!!!!!!!!!! Gets the dems to eat themselves alive!!
Contact the reps here to offer to join them tomorrow, or next week, every week until the convention!!!!! RECREATE '68. Count every vote! (DNC implode!)
"small but very fired up group of Floridians rallied in the street outside the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters here today, demanding that their primary votes be counted and threatening to literally block the doors of the Democratic Convention if they aren't."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009507/posts#comment
You just have to LOVE this passion.
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