Someone put Moltisanti on 24 hour suicide watch
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,1299381.story
For more Snipes gets the max -- 3 years -- in tax case
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,1299381.story
Quote:
OCALA - Breaking news: . Wesley Snipes has been sentenced to 36 months in prison A federal judge this morning heard objections from a lawyer for Wesley Snipes, as the defense struggled to keep the Orlando-born actor out of prison for tax crimes. The proceedings recessed for lunch without a decision on Snipes or his co-defendants, Eddie Ray Kahn, 64, of Sorrento, and Douglas Rosile, 59, of Venice. The case was scheduled to resume at 1:30 p.m. TV judge Joe Brown was among those in a crowded courtroom. "I got asked to come," said Brown, who wrote a three-page letter urging probation for Snipes. "I've done a lot of things in the justice system." Recently added co-counsel Carmen Hernandez argued that Snipes' crimes were not serious, pointing out that the jury found him guilty of three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file federal tax returns. But Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges disagreed with her. "Any offense that places my liberty at risk is a serious one," Hodges said. Hernandez also revealed that Snipes, 45, star of more than 50 films, including the Blade vampire trilogy, had offered in August 2007 to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count and to pay his tax debt as long as he was promised no prison time. She said prosecutors rejected the offer, insisting the actor plead to one of two felony counts that he was charged with. A jury in Ocala acquitted him of both felony counts on Feb. 1. Hernandez also argued against imposing a fine on the actor. "He will pay off these taxes [with interest and penalties]. He will be paying a lot more than if he had paid his taxes on time," she said. The judge then quipped that Snipes has already paid dearly, a reference to his expensive stable of lawyers. Snipes smiled and nodded his head as if in agreement. Snipes has a star-studded cast of supporters. Denzel Washington called him a "mighty oak." Woody Harrelson declared that he was honored to call the Orlando-born actor "my brother." In addition to Brown, another TV judge, Greg Mathis, chimed in with his opinion that Snipes should not go to prison. Defense lawyers submitted 39 pages of testimonials on behalf of the movie star -- a list that included not only show-business figures but also high-school friends, acquaintances and employees, including his tailor and driver. Federal prosecutors previously filed a memorandum asking Hodges to impose a three-year prison term and levy a minimum fine of $5 million on Snipes. Prosecutors contend the actor conspired with Kahn in efforts to cheat the government out of more than $40 million in tax debts. Kahn, who has turned down interview requests, could receive up to 10 years in prison today. Defense urges probation Defense lawyers submitted their own memorandum to Hodges on Wednesday, urging him to put Snipes on probation. |
