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The purpose of this website is to provide interested people with relevant and timely background information regarding the Wesley Snipes criminal trial taking place in January 2008 in Ocala, FL.

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Tomorrow is the big day

By JJ MacNab | April 23, 2008

In their sentencing memos, the government has asked that the judge give the three defendants some fairly stiff sentences (click on their names to read the applicable filing by the prosecutors):

Wesley Snipes - 36 months in prison plus a fine of at least $5,000,000

Eddie Kahn – 120 months in prison

Douglas Rosile – 78 – 97 months in prison 

On the other side, Snipes’ attorneys have asked that their client do no time in prison at all.  The defense lawyers claim that jail would be a “travesty,” that Snipes’ small children will suffer, and that his various and famous friends all believe he is a good guy who shouldn’t go to prison.

From the defense memo:

Imprisoning Mr. Snipes, while his children are at such a critical developmental stage where a father’s love, guidance and nurturance are essential to their development will cause the children irreparable harm. The youngest ones will cry themselves to sleep, not understanding why their father is no longer there to love them.

Only people without kids should ever pay for their crimes by going to prison?  Snipes really should have taken his family into consideration before entrusting his future to the con artistry of a convicted tax evader and ex-CPA.

There’s also significant back and forth in the various filings about how much Snipes actually owes in back taxes.  The government simply can’t know for sure because Snipes still hasn’t filed his tax returns for 1999 to 2004, which he is required to sign under penalty of perjury.  

Snipes, meanwhile, had several friends and family write character reference letters to the judge, including notes from TV judges, his agent, his costume designer, his lawyer, and fellow actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington.  None of these letters, however, can compare to a single sentence found in a recommendation made by martial arts school owner Bob Wall:

Chuck Norris admires and respects Wesley Snipes… 

Hmmm.  I’m not sure the prosecution team can top that one.

Topics: Kahn, Rosile, Snipes | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Tomorrow is the big day”

  1. ErsatzAnarchist Says:
    April 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    If Q was up and running at full speed we could have a pool there on the jail term for Snipes. Your Blog will be just as good.

    Put my Federal Reserve Notes on 31 months.

  2. dezcad Says:
    April 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am

    I’m guessing 36 months.

  3. Bob Says:
    April 24th, 2008 at 9:52 am

    I’m guessing something closer to 24 months and I would not be all that surprised to see some form of “probation” thrown in for good measure. The outstanding tax filings will probably be factored in as well.

  4. ima Says:
    April 24th, 2008 at 10:11 am

    My money is on 24 months.

    I didn’t know that Snipes had such young kids. He can’t go to prison but he can live in Namibia for close to a year? Hogwash, of course his family is going to suffer, that’s part of the harm you cause when you break the law. He might be best guy in the world, but the guy needs some time in jail to come to terms with reality.

    But a Chuck Norris endorsement, even third party, is rather hard to overcome. Fact – Chuck Norris once had an erection while sleeping and struck oil.

  5. JJ MacNab Says:
    April 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    The hearing broke for lunch. It sounds like the judge is leaning towards the whole 36 months.