DMX is set to go before a judge to be sentenced in his tax evasion case next week. The prosecutors might be looking to make an example out of the rapper with the sentence they suggested.

As previously reported, last July, Earl was hit with tax evasion charges after the IRS accused him of owing $1.7 million. The institution alleged the rapper concealed his income from tracks he dropped back in the early 2000s, with the feds naming his 2003 track, "X Gon' Give It to Ya," as one of them. They claim he also hid finances in surrogate bank accounts.

After initially pleading not guilty, he pleaded guilty to the charges in November and avoided a maximum penalty of up to 40 years behind bars if convicted. "Today, Earl Simmons admitted to systematically cheating on his taxes," said Joon H. Kim, who operates as the acting United States attorney for the Southern District of New York at the time. "By insisting to be paid in cash whenever possible and having royalty payments diverted to the accounts of financial surrogates, Simmons concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars of income from the IRS."

Now, according to TMZ, prosecutors in the case want the judge to throw the book at the Yonkers, N.Y. rapper. Docs obtained by the site show the U.S. District Attorney's Office is recommending DMX serve five years, the maximum under his new plea deal. They reportedly want a clear message sent saying "star power doesn't entitle someone to a free pass."

X has had a rough time while he waits to hear his fate. While out on bail, he failed a drug test breaking the conditions of his bond and was tossed back in jail until his sentencing.