DMX Sentenced For Tax Evasion Charges
On March 28, rapper DMX was sentenced to one year in federal prison. DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was charged for tax evasion in Federal District Court in Manhattan, New York. This is good news for Mr. Simmons, considering that prosecutors actually recommended a five-year sentence for him.
Last year, in November DMX pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud. According to New York Times, Mr. Simmons owed $1.7 million in unpaid taxes and penalties derived from income be brought in between 2002 and 2005. The rapper also reportedly failed to file taxes from 2010 to 2015 while earning at least $2.3 million during that time. To avoid paying taxes DMX was maintaining a “cash lifestyle”, using bank accounts belonging to others and even demanding that a $125,000 fee from the television show “Celebrity Couples Therapy” be issued to him without taxes being withheld.
Prosecutors argued that the rapper had a full scheme in place to evade taxes and was trying to blame accountants and managers for his plans. DMX’s lawyers argued the rapper needed get probation so that he could afford to continue to take care of his 15 children and be able to pay back the taxes owed.
As DMX was waiting to be sentenced, his defense team played his music for the courtroom to give the judge a sense of the type of person he is and the things he has had to overcome. The song chosen by the defense team was “Slippin'”, a song about the rapper’s desire to make positive changes in his life.
Judge Jed S. Rakoff listened to the music and felt some empathy for the defendant, but still issued the year long sentence. Judge Rakoff explained that it was important that DMX get punished for his crimes and called the rapper his own worst enemy.
Along with having to serve one year in prison, Mr. Simmons will have to compensate the government $2.29 million and will have three years of supervision once released.
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