Wesley Snipes must go to jail
The 48-year-old actor was ordered by a federal judge on Friday (19.11.10) to surrender to authorities immediately and begin serving a three-year prison sentence for tax-related crimes.
The `Blade` star`s lawyers had asked Florida Judge William Terrell Hodges to review his sentence and grant a new trial after he was originally found guilty of having "wilfully neglected" to file tax returns for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 by a US court in April 2008.
He appealed that decision on the grounds that some jurors were prejudiced against him and has been on bail ever since.
But Judge Hodges did not accept Snipes` claim and ruled against him.
He wrote in his decision: "The defendant Snipes had a fair trial; he has had a full, fair and thorough review of his conviction and sentence. The time has come for the judgement to be enforced."
Despite the judge`s decision, Snipes` defence attorney Daniel Meachum has claimed the Hollywood star now plans to launch an appeal at the US Supreme Court and is remaining "incredibly calm and positive".
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