Fat Joe Begins Prison Sentence For Tax Evasion
Fat Joe has turned himself in at a Florida prison to begin his sentence for tax evasion.
According to TMZ, Fat Joe is currently in custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
In December 2012, the rapper pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes on $1 million of income earned between 2007 and 2008. However, the federal government said he failed to pay taxes on earnings of $3.3 million from 2007 to 2010, and that the total loss for those four years was $718,038. He was sentenced to four months in prison and fined $15,000, plus one year of supervised release. He originally faced up to two years in prison.
The 42-year-old, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, liquidated his retirement account in order to start paying back the money he owed.
“I did everything I could to achieve what I could, to move my family; I tried to stay positive, focus on the positive, and get myself out,” Fat Joe said. “I guess I’m surprised, caused I worked so hard to not end up in court, that I’m here. This is the last place I thought I would be.”
Although he is being held in Miami, where he currently resides, Fat Joe was prosecuted in New Jersey because some of the companies he earns income from are incorporated in the state. These included Terror Squad Production Inc. and Miramar Music Touring Inc. He was also earning income from FJTS Corp. during the time period in question.
The rapper left fans with a little gift before he reported to prison. He released a new mixtape, The Darkside 3, and tweeted a goodbye message.
FARE WELL MY PEOPLE IM BOUT TO TAKE THAT RIDE SEE U AT DIDDYS HOUSE FOR NEW YEARS#GODWILLINGINSHALLAH
— FAT JOE (@fatjoe) August 26, 2013
The Darkside 3 has already been downloaded over 10,000 times and has received a 5-star rating with 42 ratings.
