Manhattan, NY – A humble DMX was sentenced to one year in prison for tax evasion on Wednesday (March 28). According to TMZ, X told the judge he knew he was “too old” to be behaving the way he is and admitted he “hasn’t been acting right.”
During the hearing, which was held in a New York City courtroom, X’s attorney Murray Richman played the New York native’s video for “Slippin” to demonstrate his difficult path.
“I’ve been through mad different phases like mazes, to find my way,” he raps in the song. “And now I know that happy days are not far away/ If I’m strong enough I’ll live long enough to see my kids/ Doing something more constructive with their time than bids/ I know because I been there.”
But, as The Hollywood Reporter states, the judge called X’s fraud a “brazen and blatant” crime and he would be forced to face the consequences. In addition to the 12-month sentence, the judge ordered three years of supervised release.
It could have turned out much worse for X. He was originally facing 14 counts of felony tax evasion and up to 40 years in prison before he copped a plea deal last November. He agreed to plead guilty to one count in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Earlier this month, prosecutors were pushing for the maximum five-year sentence, claiming he’s been “on a one-man crime spree for the past 30 years.”
Substance abuse issues has plagued the 47-year-old Hip Hop vet for much of his career. As part of his bail conditions, he was required to go to drug rehab but got arrested again in January after failing a drug test.
(The latest update on this article was published on March 23, 2018 and can be found below.)
DMX could reportedly get five years in prison if federal prosecutors on his tax evasion case get their way. According to TMZ, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office wants the judge to “send a message” that “star power doesn’t entitle someone to a free pass.”
Prosecutors also reportedly said he’s been “on a one-man crime spree for the past 30 years.”
The veteran New York MC was facing up to 40 years in prison but he struck a deal by entering a guilty plea to just one count of tax evasion. He was originally charged with 14 counts.
The 47-year-old, who has wrestled with substance abuse issues for years, went to drug rehab as a part of his bail conditions but was arrested in January after failing a drug test.
X faces sentencing next week.
(The original version of this article was published on January 30, 2018 and can be found below.)
DMX was taken into custody at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday morning (January 30) for violating his probation, according to TMZ.
The East Coast rap vet, who has consistently struggled with substance abuse over the years, was arrested for failing a drug test. He reportedly tested positive for opiates, cocaine and oxycodone, and the judge deemed him a flight risk.
The “X’ Gon Give It To Ya” mastermind was out on bail for his tax evasion case and ordered to complete drug rehab as part of his bail conditions. After short stint at a New England facility, he was back out and had gained 40 lbs.
Footage of X in an airport bar that circulated last week raised a few eyebrows. In the clip, X is seen drinking and buying shots for people as he preached the word of God.
X was arrested on 14 felony counts of tax evasion last July and posted $500,000 bail before pleading guilty last November. X’s attorney Murray Richman expressed his disappointment on this most recent arrest.
“I’m saddened and disappointed,” Richman told TMZ. “We’ll have to deal with it accordingly.”
Richman added he’d like to get X back into a rehab program before he’s sentenced in March. If convicted, he faces up to 44 years in prison.
Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.45824/title.dmx-heading-back-to-jail-after-failing-drug-test
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