Ahead of Sentencing, Wesley Gets Help from Woody and Denzel

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Wesley is like a tree — a mighty oak. . . ‘planted by streams of water with leaves that do not wither.’ Many. . . .have sat in his shade and even been protected by his presence. I am proud of him, proud to call him a fellow thespian and most imporantly, proud to call him a friend. — Denzel Washington on Wesley Snipes


Tax season may be behind us, but the Wesley Snipes tax saga continues to give — and give big — with two Hollywood heavies going to bat for Snipes in advance of today’s sentencing.

First, let’s get everyone caught up: Earlier this year, Snipes, whom the government labels a “tax defier,” was found not guilty of federal tax-fraud and conspiracy charges, but was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return. (Click here, here, here and here for past LB coverage.) Today is Snipes’s sentencing, at which he could receive up to three years in prison. The government has filed a sentencing memo urging the court to slap Snipes with the maximum sentence and fine of $5 million. Snipes’s defense counsel responded with their own sentencing memo, requesting probation. (HT: Tax Prof Blog)

As Paul Caron, our own mighty oak of tax blogging, reports, the 70-page memo attaches over three dozen letters attesting to Snipes’s good character, including letters from Woody Harrelson — who appeared with Snipes in “Wildcats” (1986), “White Men Can’t Jump” (1992) and “Money Train” (1995) — and Denzel Washington. For good reading, click through to the Tax Prof Blog to read the letters in their entirety. Here’s Woody’s money quote:

• I’ve know Wes for over 20 years, since the very beginning of my career. My first movie was also his first movie, Wildcats [about a high school football team] with Goldie Hawn. Both of us were 23 and our birthdays are only one week apart. I was, along with Goldie’s character, the only Caucasian associated with the team. A few of the folks on the production were followers of Louis Farrakhan. It was the first time I experienced racism towards me. This was challenging and what could have been an ugly situation turned out to be quite the opposite. Wes took the time to discuss and dissect the issue of racism with all of us, and most of our free time on the set was spent discussing race from a historical perspective. He strives for rightness in all of his relations and I realized early on what a true citizen of the world Wes is. He continues to earn my respect to this day.

For more on today’s Snipes sentencing, click here for an AP report, and here for a story from the Orlando Sentinel.