Wesley Snipes Runs Out of Chances, Must Surrender to Prison

After two years of appeals, judge finally orders actor to begin serving three-year prison sentence on federal tax evasion charges

By Gina Serpe Nov 19, 2010 8:04 PMTags
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Time's up.

Two years ago, Wesley Snipes was found guilty on charges of federal tax evasion. Since then, he's never come across an appeal he didn't like. But guess what?

The judge has finally had it, rejected his Hail Mary request for a new trial, and this morning ordered the actor to surrender immediately to begin serving out his three year prison sentence.

"The defendant Snipes had a fair trial," U.S. District Judge Terrell Hodges wrote in his 17-page ruling. "He has had a full, fair and thorough review of his conviction and sentence by the Court of Appeal; and he has had a full, fair and thorough review of his present claims, during all of which he has remained at liberty.

"The time has come for the judgment to be enforced."

Translation: the 48-year-old actor needs to report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons ASAP to begin his 36-month sentence.

The sentence was originally handed down in 2008, when Snipes was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of willfully failing to file federal tax returns, thus shorting Uncle Sam some $7 million.

So how is Snipes, who hasn't been in court this week, taking the news?

"It is just shocking," his Atlanta-based attorney, Daniel Meachum, told the Orlando Sentinel (the proceedings have been taking place in nearby Ocala).

Well, if it's so shocking, it's a good thing he had two whole years to prepare himself for the inevitability of the sentence.

"Wesley is very disappointed but staying strong and positive."

He's also, for the time being, staying free. There's no word yet on where or when he will be turning himself in.