DMX Pleads Guilty To Not Paying Taxes, Owes $1.7 Million
DMX, also known as Earl Simmons, pleaded guilty on Thursday, November 30 to 14 counts of tax fraud.
The New York rapper was initially arrested in July for withholding $1.7 million in taxes. Now, he faces up to five years in prison once he is sentenced next year. During the trial, it was noted that he concealed millions of dollars in revenue in order to not pay his taxes.
How He Cheated The System
The Associated Press reported that DMX would transfer his payments to the accounts of others, some being his managers to conceal his money. Another example of this is when the New York native was cast on the reality show, Celebrity Couples Therapy. He requested the producers to pay him with a check that withheld taxes or else, he wouldn’t film for the show.
DMX's Plea
During the trial, DMX accused the people in charge of him for the reason why he's been charged with tax fraud. However, he eventually admitted that he was to blame for his demise.
In a statement, Joon H. Kim, acting United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, revealed that DMX has also agreed to pay off his tax debt.
“Today, Earl Simmons admitted to systematically cheating on his taxes. 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," the statement began.
"Simmons made a choice between ‘Right or Wrong,’ and did the right thing, admitting his guilt, and agreeing to pay his tax liabilities. No matter who you are or whatever fame you may have achieved, the law applies equally to all, and no one is exempt from the shared obligation to pay our taxes,” Kim continued.
When He Will Be Sentenced
The "Ruff Ryder Anthem" rapper's sentencing may be postponed continuously because he is currently being rehabilitated for drug and alcohol issues. He is slated for sentencing on March 29, 2018.
For the 2017 Holiday season, DMX released a studio version of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer." Last year, his freestyle of the holiday favorite went viral after he was interviewed at New York City's Power 105.1 radio station. Hopefully, his official rendition of the Christmas carol will bring the "How's It Goin' Down" icon's revenue as he pays off his debt and legal fees.
Check out the viral video and studio version below. The latter is available for streaming on Spotify.
