Wesley Snipes Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail

This isn’t rap-related but I just found it interesting to read the letters that Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson submitted to the judge who will be sentencing Wesley Snipes on his tax-fraud charges Thursday. Prosecutors have already asked the judge to throw the book at Snipes. You know, make a real example of the actor/martial-arts enthusiast/father of five. He may not get the pre-requisite Hollywood DUI every 6 months like the people who fill up The Green Door or Phillipe’s, but he is more offensive to the mainstream because of his other anti-establishment tendencies.

It’s not my place to say how Wesley should be punished for his crime. Nor is it my place to judge that crime in relation to other corporate white-collar cases, or high-profile celebrity cases.

But can appreciate how this kind of show of friendship is rare.

Denzel Washington’s character reference excerpt:

“I was fortunate enough to meet Wesley Snipes over 20 years ago and have called him a friend since that first day…Wesley is like a tree - a mighty oak. He stands for so many, “like a tree, planted by streams of water with leaves that do not wither.” Many who know him have witnessed the fruit of his labors, have sat in his shade and even been protected by his presence. I am proud of him, proud to call him a fellow thespian and most importantly, proud to call him a friend. I hope that sharing my observations will assist you in making the appropriate decision in his case.”
Woody Harrelson’s character reference excerpt:

“My first movie was also his first movie, Wildcats with Goldie Hawn. Both of us were 23 and our birthdays are only one week apart. I was, along with Goldie’s character, the only Caucasian associated with the team. A few of the folks on the production were followers of Louis Farrakhan. It was the first time I experienced racism towards me. This was challenging and what could have been an ugly situation turned out to be quite the opposite. Wes took the time to discuss and dissect the issue of racism with all of us…he strives for rightness in all his relations and I realized early on what a true citizen of the world Wes is. He continues to earn my respect to this day.”

A federal judge on Thursday April 24th sentenced the actor Wesley Snipes to three years in prison for willfully failing to file tax returns.Snipes, who was convicted in February, received one year for each count, to be served consecutively, and an additional year of probation. The sentence was handed down by Judge William Terrell Hodges of Federal District Court.