DMX Is Facing The Music: Rapper Sentenced To 1 Year In Prison For Tax Evasion
DMX is getting one year in prison for tax evasion, a relatively short time compared to the five years prosecutors are pushing for.
DMX, who is Earl Simmons in real life, was sentenced to a year in prison by District Judge Jed Rakoff on Wednesday for evading $1.7 million taxes, but after hearing about the musician's rough childhood, the presider made the decision, though the 47-year-old will be supervised for three years upon release.
The "X Gon' Give It to You" singer faced the judge during the proceedings and finally owed up for the wrong things he did, saying he was responsible for these. DMX also stressed that he isn't getting any younger to be doing any of those things.
"I was in a cloud. I wasn't thinking straight," DMX said of his previous wrongdoings, including the recent drug incident.
'Slippin'
DMX's lawyer, Murray Richman, played his 1998 hit "Slippin'" that prompted him to cry. The song is about the hardships and his "drama with my mama." It might have done something to the judge, as he lowered his sentence down.
However, DMX isn't entirely getting off the hook unpunished. The judge said the accused should pay $2.3 million in restitution. While his sentence was being given, the rapper wept and asked further if he could have some more understanding as he has 15 children, and he wanted to spend time with his 1-year-old son, who underwent two operations already.
Apparently, federal prosecutors want the rapper to serve the maximum sentence that could be given to him, which is five years, as they intend to give DMX the lesson that being a prominent person doesn't excuse one from the law. In November, he struck a plea of one count of tax evasion, admitting he was guilty, lowering down his sentence to a maximum of five instead of 40. He initially was hit with 14 counts after hiding his income from the government.
Drug Test
Early this year, while out on bail, he failed a drug test. This had prompted authorities to return him back behind bars. Nicholas Biase, U.S. attorney spokesman, said they took a video taken by TMZ as a signal that there was something wrong. In the clip, DMX was seen at a St. Louis airport bar, and sources say he was buying drinks for other people at the bar. Drinking is a violation of his probation.
