Wesley Snipes Petitions to Leave Federal Prison

Celebrity News December 17, 2010 AT 6:43PM
Wesley Snipes Petitions to Leave Federal Prison Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

After serving just eight days of his three-year federal prison sentence, Wesley Snipes is hoping to be set free -- temporarily, at least.

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Convicted of tax-related crimes in November, the 48-year-old actor checked in to the McKean Federal Correctional Institute in Lewis Run, Pennsylvania on December 9; his request for a new trial was denied by Judge William Terrell.

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According to TMZ, the Snipes' lawyers filed an appeal Friday asking the court to let the Blade trilogy star leave prison so he can take his tax evasion case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Snipes' attorneys asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn the decision that denied the actor a second trial, alleging that there was juror bias.

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  • December 20, 2010 - 12:20pm Tiffany Simpson

    People! Please KNOW the facts. He PAID over $30M in taxes over the years. His verdict was not about "not paid", it's about "not filed". He didn't file the papers. That's why he was NEVER charged or convicted of tax evasion. He was convicted for not filing the 1040 forms which his two former accountant,s who are both now in jail,were handling for tax crime and Ponzi scheme!!! The prejudice against Mr. Snipes is so horrible that people feel so righteous to punish this man before even knowing the facts... And why are people eager to send non-violent, talented people anyway, instead of punishing them by making them serve the communities instead? If they start putting people for "MISDEMEANORS", half of the country should turn into a prison as crowded as they are already while the real criminals are walking around continuing their crime right at this minute. What do we gain by imprisoning an outstanding citizen who's been generating money not only for himself but for hundreds of people. Do you know how many jobs he can create when producing a movie? That's exactly what they DON"T want him to do. Wonder why our economy is so messed up? That's why he is in jail instead of working to make money. What do people want to punish him for??? Poor money management? He only made contributions to our economy and culture over two decades. We all need to wake up and educate ourselves on what is really going on in this country. I guess, people who criticize Snipes wouldn't fight at all if they were treated unjustly, they would just quietly go into jail and sit there for years, not trying fight against the injustice and defend their liberties... because they are lazy and they are afraid to defend the truth... At least Mr. Snipes has guts to stand up for his rights while ignorant people's misconception against him are throwing stones at him. What we don't realize is that we could very well be hit by those stones one day, I say, soon, looking at the amount of injustice going on just about everywhere right now... We should help him find the justice instead of clapping our hands. freesnipesnow.

  • December 18, 2010 - 12:50am Donna Fallis

    They should turn him loose, he wasn't making tax law like Charlie Rangel, and he was only delinquent 3-years. Rangel got away with 17-years worth of tax dodging and when caught blamed it on a language barrier. It's not fair that one does time and the other skates like a big dog because he has congressional immunity or whatever they're calling it now!

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