Wesley Snipes Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Wesley Snipes leaves federal court after sentencing.

Actorhas received a three-year prison sentence for three counts of willfully failing to file his taxes.

Although Snipes' attorney argued that the sentence was too stiff for a first-time offender, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges disagreed, despite character reference letters from three dozen family members and friends, including Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson. The judge said Snipes exhibited a "history of contempt over a period of time" for U.S. tax laws.

U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill addressed reporters outside the courthouse, saying, "The sentencing court sends the right message to the American taxpayer — you've got to pay your taxes." "Rich, poor, it doesn't matter. We all pay our taxes."

View Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson character reference letters below.

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