White men can’t jump, and movie actor Wesley Snipes apparently can’t fill out his tax returns properly, according to a recently unsealed indictment from the Internal Revenue Service.The eight-count indictment charges Snipes and two Florida men with conspiracy to defraud the IRS and presenting a fraudulent claim for payment. Snipes is facing six counts of failing to file income tax returns between 1999 and 2004.
According to court documents filed in Tampa, Fla., the star of “White Men Can’t Jump,” “Murder at 1600” and the “Blade” vampire trilogy fraudulently claimed refunds totaling almost $12 million. He faces more than 15 years in prison.
Also named in the indictment were Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas P. Rosile. Snipes allegedly conspired with Kahn, the founder of American Rights Litigator, and tax preperar Rosile, to file false refund claims based on a bogus argument that only income from foreign sources was subject to taxation.
According to published reports, Snipes altered the signature line by inserting the word, "no," as follows: "Under no penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and Sign belief, they are true, correct, and complete."
Rosile is in custody, Kahn is believed to be outside the country, and the whereabouts of Snipes are unknown.
The Justice Department sued Rosile in 2002 for filing bogus tax refund claims, including a $7.3 million demand for Snipes. The actor was never charged in that case, which is still pending.
