Snipes allowed to leave country to film

OCALA, Fla., July 3 (UPI) -- A U.S. District judge in Florida has granted actor Wesley Snipes's request to leave the country to work on two movies.

The film star was sentenced in April to three years in prison for failing to file multiple income-tax returns, however, he has been allowed to remain free while his legal team appeals his case.

E! Online said Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges ruled Wednesday that Snipes can go to London this month to finish work on the horror film "Gallowwalker," then head to Bangkok in September to shoot the action movie "Chasing the Dragon."

Although prosecutors objected to Snipes's request to spend at least two months "beginning a new project (in Thailand) half-way around the world with an open-ended return date," the judge allowed Snipes to go any way, E! Online said.

Snipes is best known for his roles in the "Blade" trilogy, "The Fan," "Demolition Man," "Jungle Fever" and "White Men Can't Jump."