Ish is not on the up and up for L Boogie. After the Feds put out notice earlier this month, via legal charges, that Lauryn Hill owed them for three years of taxes, the singer has now plead guilty to tax evasion.
Find out what that means for Ms. Hill inside...
A few weeks ago, court documents surfaced saying Jersey native Lauryn Hill (shown above heading into court today) failed to pay her taxes for the 2005-2007 years, despite the fact she earned $1.6 million during that time.
And during her hearing with a federal court magistrate today, the "X-Factor" singer plead guilty to the tax evasion charges. Sentencing will happen this September, and she faces up to three years and prison plus $75,000 in fines.
Lauryn's lawyer, Nathan Hockman, blamed the government for "targeting her since she's a celebrity" instead of taking responsibility for failing to pay taxes.
"There are many people in society who fail to file their taxes on time who only face civil liability. They chose Ms. Hill in particular because of who she was."
Well that explains why she thought her lengthy posting as to why she didn't pay her taxes--citing that she had "withdrawn form society" and let the government know already she wasn't paying--was a valid explanation.
The New Jersey News described today's hearing saying:
Hill spoke little at her hearing today and stood attentively with her arms crossed in front of her chest when the judge first addressed her. She appeared in a white button-down shirt, blue blazer and long coral skirt.
She did, however, take issue with two statements made by U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp that she discussed in whispers with Hockman at length.
Hill raised her concerns with Hockman when the judge asked her if anyone had forced her to enter a guilty plea either directly or indirectly, and again when the judge ordered her to undergo mental health counseling as directed by pre-trial intervention services.
Through her attorney, Hill asked the judge to clarify what he meant by the words "directly" and "directed."
"Ms. Hill is very particular about language," Hockman said. "Language is very important to Ms. Hill."
It honestly pains me that Lauryn and the people around her let it get to this point. Folks must not have learned from Wesley. Hope it gets handled without jail time being a resolution.
Pics via SPLASH
Source: http://theybf.com/2012/06/29/oh-no-lauryn-hill-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasion-faces-3-years-in-prison
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