DMX pleads guilty to tax evasion, faces prison time

Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Rapper DMX pleaded guilty before a federal judge Thursday in New York to tax evasion.

DMX, real name Earl Simmons, was originally arrested in July on tax charges with the Department of Justice stating he avoided paying $1.7 million in taxes over several years.

"Today, Earl Simmons admitted to systematically cheating on his taxes. By insisting to be paid in cash whenever possible and having royalty payments diverted to the accounts of financial surrogates, Simmons concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars of income from the IRS," acting United States attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim said in a statement.

"Simmons made a choice between 'Right or Wrong,' and did the right thing, admitting his guilt, and agreeing to pay his tax liabilities. No matter who you are or whatever fame you may have achieved, the law applies equally to all, and no one is exempt from the shared obligation to pay our taxes," he continued.

"He's of the opinion that he's guilty because he didn't properly supervise his own life. He gave the responsibility of paying his taxes to others, but he knows it was his responsibility. He's owning up to it at this particular point," said DMX's attorney Murray Richman.

DMX was charged with 14 counts and faced more than 40 years in prison before getting a plea deal in court. Under the deal, prosecutors will recommend he be sentenced up to five years in prison, Page Six reported.