Rapper Ja Rule has been sentenced to over two years in prison for failure to file his taxes. His failure to report over $3 million in income for 2004 and 2006 is the latest legal trouble for the hip hop star, who was already facing prison time for a gun charge, according to Reuters. Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, is not the only celebrity to get into legal trouble. Some of the stars who have felt the sting of the IRS may surprise you.
Mark Anthony
He may be making headlines right now due to his split with Jennifer Lopez, but the singer got into hot water late last year. He was hit with a lien on one of his homes in New York for $3.4 million, according to the Boston Herald. As bad as that sounds, it wasn't the first time Anthony forgot to pay his taxes. He also failed to file in 2007 as well, and ended up with a tax bill of $2.5 million. Maybe this time around he has learned his lesson, but without JLo around to remind him, he may fall back into old habits.
Joe Francis
The creator of the Girls Gone Wild franchise has seen more than his fair share of time inside a courtroom for civil lawsuits against his video empire, but he also had a run-in with Uncle Sam. In 2007: He was indicted on two counts of tax evasion, the Los Angeles Times reported. Francis didn't just neglect to pay his taxes; he was accused of falsely deducting $20 million in business expenses and hiding money in offshore accounts. Somehow Francis was able to avoid jail time in the case, but if his history is any indication, he will have more opportunities to see the inside of a cell.
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage has been in a lot of financial trouble lately. He claimed that his money woes were caused by manager Samuel Levin, whom Cage sued. Levin countered the suit, stating the actor was living beyond his means, according to CNN. Apparently Cage thought he could shore up extra cash by erroneously claiming items like his Gulfstream Jet as business expenses, says the Huffington Post. Ultimately the "National Treasure" star got caught, and the IRS billed him just under $1 million, charging his production company with a similar amount.
Snoop Dogg
The hip hop superstar shouldn't have any trouble paying his bills, but back in 2009 he was slapped with a tax lien for a whopping $284,053, as reported by The Hollywood Gossip. The lien was placed on his home in southern California. Maybe his famous personal habits are the reason he "forgot" to pay the IRS. Everything seems to have turned out alright; Snoop is out on tour for the summer throughout the United States and across the globe.
Why is it that celebrities can't seem to pay their taxes? It may be due to accountants and managers, or it may just be that they feel they are above the laws that guide the rest of us. Ja Rule will have plenty of time in prison to sort it out, but he won't be the last star to meet the IRS in court.
Sources:
Joseph Ax, editing by Christine Kearney " Ja Rule gets more than two years in jail on tax charge " Reuters via Yahoo! News
Herald Wire Service " Tax trouble for Jennifer Lopez's hubby Mark Anthony " Boston Herald
Richard Verrier " Tax evasion charges add to Francis' legal woes " Los Angeles Times
" Nic Cage spent too much: Ex-manager says " CNN Money
" IRS accuses Nicolas Cage of illegally writing off personal expenses " Huffington Post
" Snoop Dogged by assault, tax evasion charges " The Hollywood Gossip
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