Jury acquits actor Wesley Snipes of tax fraud

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Jury acquits actor Wesley Snipes of tax fraud

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OCALA, Fla. - Action star Wesley Snipes was found not guilty of federal tax-fraud and conspiracy charges Friday, but was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return.

Mr. Snipes had become an unlikely public face for the tax-denier movement, whose members maintain that Americans are not obligated to pay income taxes and that the government extracts taxes from its citizens illegally.

Snipes had faced up to 16 years in prison if convicted on all charges, but can now only get up to three years. The "Blade" star and two co-defendants had been indicted in 2006 after Snipes stopped paying, using tax protest arguments long rejected by the courts.

Snipes, pretty dapper throughout the trial, was suited down in a black suit, smiled and thanked well-wishers outside the courthouse -- walking with his hands held in a prayer position (good style). He did not make a statement or take questions from the media (good move).

Stories: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/business/01cnd-tax.html?ref=business

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080201/ap_en_mo/snipes_tax_trial 

Wesley Snipes acquitted source: http://www.thegmanifesto.com