Rapper DMX indicted on tax fraud charges

July 15 (UPI) -- Rapper DMX was charged this week with tax fraud after the Department of Justice said he avoided paying $1.7 million in taxes over several years.

DMX, whose given name is Earl Simmons, went out of his way to conceal personal wealth from the government, prosecutors said.

"For years, Earl Simmons, the recording artist and performer known as DMX, made millions from his chart-topping songs, concert performances and television shows," acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said in a statement. "But while raking in millions from his songs, including his 2003 hit 'X Gon' Give it to Ya,' DMX didn't give any of it to the IRS. Far from it, DMX allegedly went out of his way to evade taxes, including by avoiding personal bank accounts, setting up accounts in other's names and paying personal expenses largely in cash."

The $1.7 million is comprised of taxes owed from 2002 to 2005. The IRS also said from 2010 to 2015, when the IRS was attempting to collect the back taxes, Simmons earned $2.3 million, but did not file tax returns in any of those years.

Simmons, 46, faces a 14-count indictment in federal court on Manhattan. Each count carries at least a maximum 1-year prison sentence. Several of the counts carry a maximum 5-year sentence.