Sniped

I have had an article on my desk since December 21st, 2007 just waiting for me to get time to actually comment on it.  Based on recent follow on stories, this turns out to be a perfect time to do just that.  The subject of the Entertainment Weekly article was Wesley Snipes and his pending fall from grace due to alleged (at the time) legal issues with the Internal Revenue Service.  So with Wesley all dolled up in his heritage clothes he agrees to meet with the article’s author in his “huge stucco estate with postcard views and endless lawns… identical to every other million-dollar house.”  The article points out his fall from $10M/film status down to ONLY $2M, his staff bringing them fresh fruit and the pending trial on eight counts of tax fraud that could net him 16 years in prison.  Apparently he was trying to defraud the IRS of >$11M (or a little more than one of his earlier movies) and get this… not filing a return at all from 99-04 – later in the article he blames his advisors – apparently he never expected this may be wrong – but admits “the [$11M] refunds may have been a bit aggressive” but based on a premise that income from U.S. citizens wasn’t taxable (WHAT?).

The story rambles on a bit but eventually comes to Snipes’ stardom downfall on claims of “color of his skin”, “[s]ystematic racism”, “so few guys who do action and do it well … even fewer who are African-American”, “black man is usually the culprit”.  This from the actor who was star of the movie White Man Can’t Jump and in Passenger 57 had no problem referencing race with “Always bet on black”.  Oh the hardships of a multi-millionaire, mansion living, staff serving actor who doesn’t feel he should pay as much (as in none) taxes as 99% of the rest of the American citizens. 

… but recent jury decisions has brought this into a whole new perspective.  I now have the “rest of the story” thanks to a recent AP article stating that he will serve 3 (hmmm seems someone may have benefited from his fame since it was suppose to be up to 16 years). 

Of course when the sentencing looked like a reality, the actor whips out a checkbook and offers up $5M as a good will gesture – funny how this is an option now, but not back in December or even any of the years when filing appeared to just be a requirement for nonfamous people.  As a word of caution for anyone else who might be considering this option, I am thinking a letter of endorsement from Woody Harrelson isn’t going to help your case.  I found it humorous that his advisors were found guilty of tax evasion including setting up organizations to assist in helping its members avoid taxes.  Wow, Wesley maybe he was right and is actually a victim… wait, let’s use his words from the AP article…

“I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance,” Snipes said. He said his wealth and celebrity attracted “wolves and jackals like flies are attracted to meat.” He called himself “well-intentioned, but miseducated.”

idealistic – I am special and shouldn’t have to pay taxes
naive – go up to someone on the street and ask them if Americans are required to pay income taxes
truth-seeking  – did he even bother tracking down the truth himself?
spiritually motivated artist – I always like it when defendants bring up religion in a court of law
unschooled in law and finance – If you can read a script, you can read a tax form
wealth and celebrity – always the victim
well-intentioned – to defraud the American government is well-intentioned?
miseducated – advisor: Hey, you are special, you shouldn’t pay taxes, Snipes: Oh, okay

In the lyrics of one of my favorite (and sadly missed) bands PuzzleGut – enjoy being “Dressed up in Orange”