Ocala, FL – LAWFUEL – Law News Network – Today Wesley Trent Snipes made his initial appearance and was arraigned before the Honorable Gary R. Jones, United States Magistrate Judge. Snipes pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is scheduled for March 2007.
The court also ordered Snipes released pending trial, requiring him to post a $1 million bond. Snipes is allowed to return to Africa for the completion of the filming of a movie. He is required to return to the United States by no later than January 10, 2007, at which time he must surrender his passport. On October 17, 2006, an eight-count indictment was unsealed charging Snipes with conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and presenting a fraudulent claim for payment to the IRS. Snipes is also charged with six counts of failing to file income tax returns. The conspiracy charge and the fraudulent claim charge each carry a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
Each charge of failing to file income tax returns carries a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment. Page 1 of 2
This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Klindt, Robert O’Neill, Scot Morris, and trial attorney Jeffrey A. McLellan, U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
