Fat Joe Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

Fat Joe was sentenced to four months in federal prison yesterday for failure to file income tax returns on more than $3.3 million in earnings. According to Reuters, the rapper was also fined $15,000.

Joseph "Fat Joe" Cartagena pleaded guilty in December to two counts of failing to file with the IRS. He faced the possibility of serving up to two years in prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy Waldor showed the rapper leniency, however, for paying $718,000 in back taxes prior to sentencing and for his
charitable work, which included donating computers to local schools.

Initially, the rapper was charged with failure to file tax returns from 2007 to 2010, but the charges were reduced to not filing for two years after he agreed to a plea bargain. His income came from Terror Squad Production Inc. and Miramar Music Touring, which he owned, as well as the success of hits like his 2004 song "Lean Back."

"There was a lot going on in the years that I didn't file my taxes, but it was my responsibility," Fat Joe said.