Snipes: I'm a Scapegoat

Tue., Nov. 21, 2006 2:18 PM PST by Josh Grossberg

After a month of silence, Blade is taking a swipe at the feds and finally speaking out about the tax fraud case against him, claiming he's being made a "scapegoat" by overzealous prosecutors keen on taking down a celebrity.

Wesley Snipes was indicted on Oct. 17 for allegedly attempting to cheat the Internal Revenue Service out of $12 million in fraudulent refunds from 1996 to 1997. Additionally, the Blade star is accused of not filing any returns from 1999 to 2004. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 16 years in a federal lockup.

The 44-year-old actor, who's shooting a movie in the African country of Namibia, made his remarks in a rambling email to a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel.

"I know this has more to do with a few individuals with access to power, making moves (trying to move up!) and less with some alleged crime against the whole population of the United States of America. This reminds me of rape cases where the 'victim' is flipped, turned or converted into the role of victimizer, the 'architect conspirator,' " Snipes writes. "It appears I'm to be the scapegoat, because there's more public interest in 'celebrities gone bad' than 'rich people being taken advantage of.' "

He continues: "Being a black male who asks questions doesn't help the situation either. But this is a serious issue, NO, a very serious issue that I am not taking lightly one bit. I will abide by the law, seeking the protections the law affords me and as always seek the advice of competent council in effort to resolve this issue. I'm not running, I'm not a fugitive, despite the misrepresentations in the press."

Snipes then cites two previous incidents in which he feels he was being unfairly targeted because of his fame—a 2003 paternity suit filed against him in New York that was ultimately dismissed and the loss of his $1.7 million Florida home in a separate foreclosure case.

"I've injured no one, I've violated no one's rights and (as far as I know) I owe no one," the actor writes. "If I have violated someone, than I'm prepared to seek forgiveness and make amends. One is an artist and scholar seeking truth through diligent study and spiritual practice. Perhaps people like that have now become the enemy of the State."

Snipes was indicted with two alleged coconspirators, Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile, who ran American Rights Litigators, a Florida accounting firm.

Kahn, who also founded the Guiding Light of God Ministries, hightailed it to Panama following the indictment but was nabbed late last month and sent back to Florida. Rosile, an accountant for Kahn, surrendered to authorities on Oct. 17 and was subsequently released on his own recognizance by a federal judge in Ocala.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa allege that Kahn and Rosile had a bad habit of filing false tax returns to obtain massive refunds for their clients, of which they'd collect upwards of 20 percent.

While a warrant has been issued for his arrest, Snipes is holed up in Namibia shooting a zombie movie called Gallowwalker.

Prosecutors have said they're talking with the movie star's lawyers about working out a deal for him to return to the States to face criminal charges since Namibia has no extradition treaty with the U.S.

The government has also denied reports that Snipes had reached a settlement with the IRS that will keep him out of jail in return for agreeing to pay millions in back taxes.