By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
Former Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man pleaded guilty Monday in a Staten Island courthouse to tax evasion.
Method Man whose real name is Clifford Smith was charged back in October 2009 for failure to pay state and personal income taxes from 2004 to 2007. The 39-year-old rapper, who reportedly owed about $106,000 to the State Commissioner of Tax and Finance, was sentenced to a conditional discharge, meaning the arrest would be erased from his record if he stayed out of trouble.
The "Yo Momma" actor, who lives in Staten Island, made a final restitution payment of $40,000 to New York officials and left court.
His lawyer Peter Frankel told the New York Post, "He’s a fine, upstanding citizen. He’s very happy that it worked and that he was able to take care of whatever mistakes were made. Unfortunately, he did not have the people to tend to his affairs the way they were supposed to."
In a statement, Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan said, “Failure to pay your taxes is not a victimless crime. In these days of massive budget shortfalls and service cuts, tax evasion is a crime against all New Yorkers. Whether you are a celebrity or an 'Average Joe,' you will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted."
The Black Urban Times
Former Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man pleaded guilty Monday in a Staten Island courthouse to tax evasion.
Method Man whose real name is Clifford Smith was charged back in October 2009 for failure to pay state and personal income taxes from 2004 to 2007. The 39-year-old rapper, who reportedly owed about $106,000 to the State Commissioner of Tax and Finance, was sentenced to a conditional discharge, meaning the arrest would be erased from his record if he stayed out of trouble.
The "Yo Momma" actor, who lives in Staten Island, made a final restitution payment of $40,000 to New York officials and left court.
His lawyer Peter Frankel told the New York Post, "He’s a fine, upstanding citizen. He’s very happy that it worked and that he was able to take care of whatever mistakes were made. Unfortunately, he did not have the people to tend to his affairs the way they were supposed to."
In a statement, Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan said, “Failure to pay your taxes is not a victimless crime. In these days of massive budget shortfalls and service cuts, tax evasion is a crime against all New Yorkers. Whether you are a celebrity or an 'Average Joe,' you will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted."
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