Popsquire

Michelle Williams’ dad may be sent up the Creek!

After a two-and-a-half-year legal battle, Michelle’s estranged father Larry Williams has agreed to being extradited from Australia to the U.S. to face federal tax-evasion charges.  He allegedly failed to pay approximately $1.5 million in taxes between 1999 and 2001 on income from book royalties and international speaking tours.

He was arrested by Australian police in 2006, but he’s been fighting extradition (while free on bail) ever since.  Popsquire will keep you posted on Larry’s climb up the Brokebank Mountain…

Technorati Tags: Add new tag, celebrities and law, extradited, extradition, larry williams, michelle williams' dad, pop culture law, tax evasion

Helio Castroneves will be Dancing With The Jurors in 2009!

A federal court in Miami set the tax evasion trial of the former DWTS winner and two-time Indy 500 champ for March 2.  As a reminder, the 33-year-old pleaded not guilty to tax fraud last month, after being indicted for failing to pay taxes on more than $5 million in income over a four-year period.

Technorati Tags: celebrities and law, conspiracy, dancing with the stars, helio castroneves, indictment, pop culture law, tax evasion, trial date

In civil disobedience collision between pop culture and law, Melissa Etheridge threatens not to pay her taxes!

Melissa is ranting about Prop 8 in a blog entry.  With clear anger and frustration, she writes:

“Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.”

“Oh and too bad California, I know you were looking forward to the revenue from all of those extra marriages. I guess you will have to find some other way to get out of the budget trouble you are in.”

Click here to read the entire post.  And, of course, Popsquire will keep you posted when Melissa is thrown in jail for not paying taxes.

Technorati Tags: celebrities and law, civil disobedience, melissa ethridge, pop culture law, prop 8, Taxes

Just like Popsquire predicted back in June, former Survivor winner Richard Hatch is a loser!

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to entertain Hatch’s appeal to overturn his 2006 conviction for failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize he won on the show’s 2000 debut season.   Hatch currently is serving time as part of his 51-month sentence and now will have to finish out the sentence behind bars.

PS: Don’t forget to watch tonight’s episode of Survivor: Gabon.  Charlie, a Popsquire follower and attorney, is still hanging in there!

Technorati Tags: appeal, celebrities and law, pop culture law, richard hatch, survivor, tax conviction, tax evasion, US supreme court

It’s a taxing day for Helio Castroneves…

He just “tearfully pleaded” not guilty to tax fraud in a Florida federal court, according to TMZ.   After being escorted into court in cuffs and shackles, the court ordered him to turn in his passport and restricted him from leaving the country.  Bail was set at $10 million, $8 mil of which reportedly will come from Helio’s accounts in the Netherlands.

Helio’s lawyer and sister, both of whom have been implicated in the indictment, also were in court.  If convicted, each of them could serve up to 35 years in federal prison.

Popsquire will keep you posted!

Technorati Tags: celebrities and law, dancing with the stars, helio castroneves, IRS, passport, pop culture law, tax fraud, Taxes

Helio Castrovenes is Dancing With The Feds!

The 33-year-old DWTS champ has been indicted for failing to pay taxes on more than $5 million in income over a four-year period, according to the Miami Herald.  His sister, Kati Castroneves, and his lawyer, Alan Miller, are accused of assisting him in the alleged tax-evasion conspiracy.  All three are expected in federal court tomorrow morning.

Related Popsquire Posts:

Wesley Snipes’ Tax Troubles

Richard Hatch’s Tax Troubles

Technorati Tags: alan miller, celebrities and law, dancing with the stars, helio castronevers, indictment, IRS, julianne hough, kati castroneves, pop culture law, tax evasion

A federal judge obviously took Popsquire’s advice and granted Wesley Snipes’ request to travel to Thailand and England to film movies, while defense lawyers appeal his tax evasion conviction.

Prosecutors argued that Snipes is a flight risk because his “motivation to return to the United States has changed drastically” with a 36-month prison sentence hanging over his head for failing to file federal tax returns for 1999, 2000 and 2001 when he earned more than $13 million.

Popsquire’s perspective…

Good decision, Judge!  Wesley Snipes is very famous and would be quite easy to find, especially in Thailand.

In support of good judicial decisions, let’s D.A.N.C.E. to this Justice song!

Technorati Tags: appeal, conviction, england, flight risk, law, pop culture, tax evasion, Taxes, thailand, wesley snipes

On the heels of a recent request by the U.S. Attorney’s office to place Wesley Snipes in custody pending the appeal of his tax evasion conviction, Snipes’ attorneys are now asking the court to let him leave the country.

According to the AP, Snipes wants to work on two films, “Gallowwalker” and “Chasing the Dragon,” in London and in Bangkok, Thailand, respectively.

Popsquire’s perspective…

So long as Snipes will use the money to pay back taxes, let him go! He’s a very recognizable celebrity, so it’s unlikely he can hide from the law, especially in Thailand.

Technorati Tags: chasing the dragon, gallowwalker, law, pop culture, tax evasion, tax fraud, thailand, wesley snipes

The U.S. Attorney’s Office wants Wesley Snipes behind bars!

The feds filed a motion Thursday with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to appeal a U.S. district judge’s May 22 decision allowing Wesley to remain free on bond while he appeals his three-year sentence for tax fraud. It likely will take weeks, if not months, for the court to hear arguments and make a decision.

Popsquire’s perspective…

If he’s not a flight risk, then just leave Wesley alone while he is appealing the conviction. Why should tax payers foot the bill for him to live in jail when an appellate court might invalidate the sentence anyway?

Plus, isn’t it more important that he pays what he owes instead of serving jail time? It seems like having to fork over millions of dollars is punishment enough

Technorati Tags: blade, law, pop culture, tax evasion, tax fraud, wesley snipes

The government is asking the judge to make Wesley Snipes pay for the “cost of prosecution” in the tax evasion case that resulted in Snipes’ conviction on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a federal tax returns and possibly 36 months in federal prison, pending the outcome of an appeal.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the total bill is $217, 363. Of that, $193,716.98 is purportedly for scanning, printing and numbering documents found in 260 boxes of documents; $21,052.19 for witnesses; $2,456.40 for transcripts; and $138.18 for making certified color copies of trial exhibits.

Popsquire’s perspective…

Although this seems like a lot of money, it’s not entirely unreasonable. Unfortunately, the cost of litigation is extremely high. To review 260 boxes of documents takes mucho human power and time, which costs money.

Popsquire prediction…

The judge likely will grant the prosecution’s request for payment of fees, but the amount probably will be reduced. Judges often “split the baby,” meaning that neither side gets what it wants.

Previous Popsquire posts:

Wesley Wiggling Out Of Prison

Wesley Cannot Wiggle Out Of Taxes

Technorati Tags: attorneys' fees, IRS, law, misdemeanor, orlando sentinel, pop culture, tax evasion, Taxes, wesley snipes

Richard Hatch, the first winner of Survivor, is appealing his tax evasion conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the AP. Hatch was convicted two years ago of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize he won and currently is serving time as part of his 51-month sentence.

Hatch’s lawyer has argued that his client confronted producers about cheating during taping of the show, and a producer promised his taxes would be paid if he kept quiet and went on to win the competition. CBS, of course, says the claims have no merit.

Two issues:

1. It’s important to understand that Hatch’s case is not guaranteed a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Anyone can file an appeal, but the Court is not required to hear the case. Instead, the Court grants review to only about 100 cases, out of more than approximately 7,000 cases filed each year.
2. Even if the Court heard his case, it seems like a loser. As soon as Hatch realized no one was paying his taxes for him, he should have paid. Duh.

In short, Popsquire thinks this case is a Loser!

Technorati Tags: cbs, law, pop culture, reality television, richard hatch, survivor, Taxes

According to this court decision obtained by TMZ, a federal judge has granted Wesley Snipes request to remain free on bail until an appeal of his tax fraud conviction has concluded. Popsquire is on board with this decision, because the appeal could take a few years and Wesley was sentenced only to three years in total anyway.

In case you are new to Popsquire and/or the Wesley Snipes tax fraud case, click here to catch up. While you do that, let’s hope Wesley doesn’t fly away like a Nelly-Furtado-inspired-bird!

Technorati Tags: bail, federal court, federal prison, law, pop culture, tax evasion, tax fraud, wesley snipes

According to CNN, Wesley Snipes was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison — one year for each misdemeanor count of failing to file tax returns for which he was found guilty in February.

If you didn’t follow the case, here’s what you need to know…

1. From 1999 to 2004, Wesley earned approximately $38 million.
2. Wesley was accused of cheating the IRS out of $12 million in fraudulent refunds in 1996 and 1997 and not filing any tax returns from 1999 to 2004.
3. Wesley pleaded not guilty to all counts.
4. Wesley was expected to argue that he didn’t think he was required to pay federal income taxes on millions he made from his movies due to “unscrupulous” tax advice from his two codefendants, both known tax protesters.
5. Instead of presenting witnesses, Wesley’s attorneys rested on the argument that the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof.
6. Wesley’s strategy kinda worked. He was acquitted of felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy and, instead, was convicted only on three misdemeanor charges of failing to file tax returns.
7. Each misdemeanor count carried a maximum jail sentence of one year, to which he was sentenced in full yesterday.

Let’s hope Wesley remembers some moves he learned in Blade. He might be needin’ them very soon!

Technorati Tags: IRS, law, pop culture, tax evasion, tax fraud, tax returns, wesley snipes

According to CNN, the Wesley Snipes tax fraud jury found him guilty today on three misdemeanor charges of failing to file tax returns. He was acquitted on felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy, but still faces a maximum one-year sentence on each misdemeanor charge.

Just like Popsquire previously said in this post, no one can expect to make millions of dollars and not pay taxes. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist — or Popsquire — to figure that one out. Instead (and unfortunately), it takes judicial resources and jurors’ valuable time to clarify what everyone already knows.

Technorati Tags: acquittal, jury, law, pop culture, tax evasion, tax fraud, trial, verdict, wesley snipes

Because you likely are a faithful Popsquire reader, you already read this previous post and know that Wesley Snipes has been on trial for tax fraud since January 14.

The AP now reports that Snipes’ attorneys have chosen not to present any witnesses. Instead, they soon will move directly to closing arguments and hope to persuade the jury that the prosecution failed to meet its burden.

Popsquire’s perspective…

This is a bold move. Jurors generally like to hear both sides of a story and often are not persuaded by pure legal arguments about burdens of proof. Popsquire thinks this would be especially true in a case — like this one — where the defendant is accused of failing to pay taxes on approximately $38 million in income.

If Snipes is acquitted, Popsquire will be very surprised. He also presumes that Snipes will be singing “Invincible” by Ok Go…

Technorati Tags: law, pop culture, tax evasion, tax fraud, trial, wesley snipes