Actor Wesley Snipes was set free by a Florida judge on Friday after posting a $1million (about R7million) bail related to federal tax evasion charges .
Actor Wesley Snipes was set free by a Florida judge on Friday after posting a $1million (about R7million) bail related to federal tax evasion charges .
Snipes, 44, appeared in a federal courthouse in Ocala, Florida, after flying in on a private jet from Namibia where he is filming the cowboy movie Gallowwalker .
He pleaded not guilty to charges that he fraudulently claimed refunds totalling nearly $12million (about R85million) from taxes paid in 1996 and 1997.
The indictment accuses Snipes of using an accounting firm known for filing false returns in exchange for 20 percent of all the money refunded and he is also charged with failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004.
Snipes' attorney Billiy Martin said: "Mr Snipes left America to begin filming Gallowwalker long before this indictment was returned.
"We want to make it clear that he did not avoid returning to the US. He's always been ready to return and he did not flee."
Snipes added: "I wanna say thanks to everybody, thanks to all of the fans out there for showing support. I look forward to clearing my name and resolving this issue post-haste."
The actor is returning to Africa to continue working on the film. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the charges. - Wenn
Actor on tax charges
Actor Wesley Snipes was set free by a Florida judge on Friday after posting a $1million (about R7million) bail related to federal tax evasion charges .
Actor Wesley Snipes was set free by a Florida judge on Friday after posting a $1million (about R7million) bail related to federal tax evasion charges .
Snipes, 44, appeared in a federal courthouse in Ocala, Florida, after flying in on a private jet from Namibia where he is filming the cowboy movie Gallowwalker .
He pleaded not guilty to charges that he fraudulently claimed refunds totalling nearly $12million (about R85million) from taxes paid in 1996 and 1997.
The indictment accuses Snipes of using an accounting firm known for filing false returns in exchange for 20 percent of all the money refunded and he is also charged with failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004.
Snipes' attorney Billiy Martin said: "Mr Snipes left America to begin filming Gallowwalker long before this indictment was returned.
"We want to make it clear that he did not avoid returning to the US. He's always been ready to return and he did not flee."
Snipes added: "I wanna say thanks to everybody, thanks to all of the fans out there for showing support. I look forward to clearing my name and resolving this issue post-haste."
The actor is returning to Africa to continue working on the film. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the charges. - Wenn
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