‘Blade’ star Wesley Snipes has surrendered to authorities on tax fraud charges, nearly two months after he was accused in central Florida. He was released on $1 million bond on Friday.
An arrest warrant was issued in October for the Hollywood star over reports he had dodged millions of dollars in taxes in 1996 and 1997. Snipes was filming ‘Gallow Walker’ in Namibia when the arrest warrant was issued.
The actor didn’t speak at Court appearance in Ocala and went there after arriving in Orlando on a private jet Friday from the African nation of Namibia, where he has been filming ‘Gallow Walker,’ his publicist said.
He will be allowed to return to Namibia to finish his film, but must return to his home in Marina del Rey, Calif., on or before Jan. 10, U.S. Magistrate Gary Jones ruled.
After the hearing Snipes, wearing blue tinted glasses and a suit, said,
I look forward to clearing my name and resolving this issue posthaste.
Snipes, 44, was charged in October with fraudulently claiming tax refunds totaling nearly $US12 million ($15 million) in 1996 and 1997. He was also charged with failure to file returns from 1999 to 2004.
The 44-year-old actor has said he is a scapegoat and was unfairly targeted by prosecutors. If convicted, he faces up to 16 years in prison.
Billy Martin, Snipes’s lawyer said,
We believe the evidence in the case will show he has been the victim of unscrupulous tax advice. And this trial will help vindicate hi.
