WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes will avoid any time in jail on tax fraud charges as part of a recent settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.
The 44-year-old star of the "Blade" film trilogy had been wanted in connection with his attempt to claim $12 million in tax refunds in 1996 and 1997, but worked out a deal that helped him avoid jail while setting up a payment plan, Daily Variety said.
Snipes had reportedly had his taxes for those years prepared by accountants with a noted history profiting from filing false returns. He had apparently used such tax packages to make the fraudulent claims.
The two men whose tax packages Snipes used in the incident have since been apprehended and indicted on similar charges.
The paper said Snipes' deal with the IRS will not only allow the actor to avoid jail time, but also will not interrupt his film work.
He is currently shooting the horror film "Gallowwalker" in Africa.
