A Real Snipe Hunt.

Date : May 01, 2008

Many of you know the saga of Wesley Snipes. It goes something like this: famous black actor falls for the tax protestor line that our system of taxation in the USA is unconstitutional. He doesn’t pay or file taxes for a number of years. An arrest warrant is issued while he is in Africa. When he gets good and ready to respond he returns to the USA and faces the music and a bunch of prosecutors intent on teaching him a lesson.

So far, pretty textbook. Straight forward. Nothing unusual except for the fame of the newly convicted criminal.

What isn’t normally reported is that Mr. Snipes was acquitted of tax fraud. The jury simply did not believe that he had an actual intent to defraud the government. Instead, the jury believed that Mr. Snipes really and truly believed that he had no obligation to pay federal income taxes. As a result he had no specific intent to “defraud” the government. In short, he believed the garbage being piped to him by the promoters of the tax protector scheme.

So, if Mr. Snipes didn’t commit tax fraud, why is he going to the Federal Penitentiary for three years? What is his crime? Simple: Failing to file tax returns. He is losing three years of his life, NOT for defrauding the government, but for not filing some papers.

This case is important because it really drives the government’s position of intolerance of tax protestors home. The message from the guys at the IRS is simple: “WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. Even if you believe the dribble from the tax protestors, even if their constitutional arguments are sacred to you…. no matter what, there will be no more excuses and you WILL go to jail.”

What really happened? Mr. Snipes was found NOT GUILTY of the real “crime” but guilty of not filing some papers.

A statement from Nathan Hochman, an assistant attorney general, says it all. "The three-year sentence sends a loud and crystal-clear message to any would-be tax defier that if you engage in this illegal conduct, you can and will go to prison."

What I can’t figure out is why so many people continue to fall for this.

Have a healthy and protected week…..and if you are one of the guys who has gone down the tax protestor road, turn around. Jail is a bad place, even if you are Wesley Snipes.

ABOUT THIS EDITOR:

Rob Lambert, Founder and former law professor is considered to be foremost expert on tax compliant asset protection structures. A contributing editor to Lexus Nexus debtor creditors series of law books Rob's passion is implement client wealth plans that stand the test of time and hold up under duress.

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