Troubled Hollywood star Wesley Snipes is begging a judge to let him leave the U.S. so he can shoot two movies in Britain and Thailand, while he is appealing his conviction for tax fraud.

The Blade star was handed a three-year prison sentence in April after officials found him guilty of failing to file taxes for five years.

The 45-year-old is currently free on appeal, and has filed paperwork requesting permission to shoot Gallowwalker in London and Chasing The Dragon in Bangkok, insisting the money he earns from the two projects will “satisfy his civil tax liabilities”.

In court documents, filed on Wednesday, Snipes’ lawyer Daniel Meachum insists the actor is not a flight risk because “were he to abscond under these circumstances, it would destroy his ability to earn a living for the rest of his life.”

Meachum adds, “Mr. Snipes will, of course, voluntarily return after his work on this film – as he has done each time he has been granted permission by this court.”

But Snipes’ request may be hampered by the fact the movie star failed to return to America immediately after charges were brought against him in 2006 – he was filming Gallowwalker in Namibia.

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WENN

Wesley Snipes has landed a $200,000 legal bill from the U.S. government – seeking to recoup the cost of convicting him on tax evasion charges.

Snipes was handed a three-year sentence in April after officials found him guilty of failing to file his taxes for five years.

The actor already owes almost $3 million in unpaid taxes and now the government have filed a cost of prosecution bill in a bid to reclaim the money officials spent on bringing the case to court.

The bill relates to the huge amount of administration work that went into sorting out Snipes’ financial records. Snipes will also have to pay the expense costs of the 13 key witnesses who had to testify at his trial.

Snipes is currently free on bail while his defence team work to overturn his convictions.

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WENN

Wesley Snipes has been granted bail pending an appeal of his federal tax convictions.

The Blade star’s lawyers announced on Thursday an Ocala, Florida judge had agreed to a request by Snipes to allow him to remain free on bond while his defense team try to overturn the convictions.

Snipes was handed a three-year sentence last month after officials found him guilty of failing to file his taxes for five years.

He had been told he would have to surrender to jail by June 3rd if he wasn’t granted bail.

U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges says he was “dubious” of the appeal arguments put forward by Snipe’s legal team, but agreed to the bail request as Snipes could possibly serve his entire sentence before a decision on his appeal was made.

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WENN

Wesley Snipes has been told he must surrender to jail by June 3rd if he isn’t granted bail to appeal his federal tax convictions.

Snipes was handed a three-year sentence last month after officials found him guilty of failing to file his taxes for five years. But the Blade star’s attorneys are appealing the conviction.

To be granted freedom during the appeal, Snipes must prove he isn’t a flight risk.

His legal team claims the judge overseeing the tax trial gave the jury bad instructions.

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WENN

Whoopi Goldberg has defended jailed actor Wesley Snipes and insists he has been used to “set an example” to the American people.

Last week, the Blade actor was handed a three-year jail term by Florida Judge William Terrell Hodges after, he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years.

But Goldberg is convinced Hollywood stars who break the law are being used as scapegoats by the U.S government in a bid to deter other people from criminal activity.

She says, “This is not unusual. With tax evasion, (the IRS) gets very, very agitated and if you’re famous they are putting you behind some kind of bar.”

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Wesley Snipes has requested he be allowed to serve his three-year prison sentence at a facility near his New Jersey home.

The Blade actor was handed the term by Florida judge Judge William Terrell Hodges after he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years.

His legal team have asked the judge and prison officials to house him in a federal prison as close to his home as possible – and officials have vowed to accommodate his wishes.

Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Felicia Ponce says, “We try to house inmates within 500 miles of their residence so they can maintain ties with their family and community.”

Source

WENN

Wesley Snipes apologized for his “mistakes and errors” as he was jailed for three years for tax evasion yesterday.

The Blade actor was handed the prison sentence by Florida judge Judge William Terrell Hodges after he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years.
Upon receiving his sentence, Snipes, 45, told the court: “I’m very sorry for my mistakes and errors. I apologize to my family, the court and the community.
“I’ve asked the court to show me mercy and the opportunity to make things right.”

The star was acquitted of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return at an earlier hearing.

Source

WENN