The trial of Wesley Snipes and his tax advisors continued in Ocala, Florida last week. The prosecution rested its case on Friday; the defenese will begin presenting its evidence on Monday. The last government witness, IRS agent Steward Stich, testified that Mr. Snipes earned over $37,897,053 from 1999 through 2004 but didn’t pay a penny in taxes.
Earlier, testimony showed that Mr. Snipes sent a 600 page letter to the IRS. Why? Joe Kristan takes up this part of the story:
If you were indicted on federal tax charges that could put you in prison for years, would you:
a). Pour yourself a stiff drink.
b). Flee the country
c). Call a good lawyer and devote your time to preparing your defense
d). Write a 600-page letter to the IRS telling them not to mess with you.Wesley Snipes chose option “d,” according to testimony in his tax evasion trial as reported at Ocala.com:
After being indicted in 2006, actor Wesley Snipes sent a document to the Internal Revenue Service declaring he was a “nonresident alien” of the United States, refuting his Social Security number and warning that continued prosecution could lead to professional consequences for federal employees.
Among other things, the letter claimed the IRS deceives people to “terrorize, enslave, rape or pillage” taxpayers.
Don’t be silly. Terrorize and pillage, sure. Enslave and rape? I haven’t seen that out of the IRS.
The IRS does many things, but a picture of a bunch of accountants laying siege on a Dark Ages town is just hard to believe.
The defense did get one ruling to go there way on Friday. Accountant Kenneth Starr was ordered by Judge William Terrell Hodges to provide the information requested of him by the defense or be held in contempt of court. Mr. Starr has ten days to comply.
As to what to expect from the defense, I have no idea. Defense attorney Robert Barnes said there’s a chance that Mr. Snipes might testify. There’s speculation that testimony will focus on Snipes’ advisors providing bad advice (i.e. telling people they didn’t have to pay taxes). The problem with that is that if you get bad advice you don’t have to take it. Snipes was told by others to pay his taxes; I doubt that line will work. Additionally, we may see celebrity testimony (though Judge Hodges hasn’t yet ruled whether that testimony will be allowed).
Meanwhile, Robert Bernhoft, one of Snipes’ attorneys said, “It’s the weakest conspiracy case I’ve ever seen in my life, that’s all I can say. Were looking forward to defense, were looking forward to closings and we’re looking forward to vindication.” And the trial likely will conclude next week as the defense now only expects to put on evidence for two to three days.
It should be an interesting week in Ocala.
Tags: Snipes