Lauryn Hill Sentenced To 3 Months; Pays Tax Bill

Lauryn Hill Sentenced To 3 Months; Pays Tax Bill

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Lauryn Hill has paid off hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes she owed on the eve of her sentencing in a federal tax evasion case, her lawyer told Reuters. The singer is due in U.S. District Court this morning in Newark, New Jersey, after pleading guilty last year to failing to report income of more than $1.8 million between 2005 and 2007.
Her lawyer, Nathan Hochman, said in an email Lauryn has repaid $504,000 she owed to the federal government, along with state taxes and penalties that brought the total amount to more than $900,000.

“Ms. Hill has not only now fully paid prior to sentencing her taxes, which are part of her criminal restitution, but she has additionally fully paid her federal and state personal taxes for the entire period under examination through 2009.”

Last month a judge criticized Hill for not keeping a promise to make restitution in the case, and gave her two additional weeks to pay what she owed. Hill had paid only about $50,000.
Hochman said the singer raised the rest of the money with a loan secured by two pieces of real estate. Hill recently announced she had teamed with Sony to put out new music, and last week released the new song “Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix).”
The U.S. attorney’s office and the Internal Revenue Service declined to comment on the case.



UPDATE: Lauryn Hill has been sentenced to spend 3 months in FEDERAL PRISON for tax evasion even though she paid off her nearly $1 million bill to IRS before sentencing. A judge in Newark, New Jersey handed out the sentence moments ago and told Lauryn that after she completes her 3 months, she’ll spend 3 more months on house arrest followed by 9 months of supervised release. Really?
Before the hearing, Lauryn’s attorney told the media the singer had paid more than $970,000 to repay her debt to the government. The 37-year-old rapper and singer pled guilty last year to three counts of tax evasion for failing to file returns on $1.8 million she earned from 2005 to 2007. Lauryn’s attorney asked for mercy because of her charity work and 6 children.
During the hearing, the judge ordered Hill to report to prison by July 8. It’s unclear where she will serve her time. Lauryn was present during the hearing, and delivered a statement to the judge in which she compared her situation to slavery.

“I was put into a system I didn’t know the nature of. I’m a child of former slaves. I got into an economic paradigm and had that imposed on me. I sold 50 million units … now I’m up here paying a tax debt. If that’s not likened to slavery, I don’t know what is.”

I always say pay the piper. Which although late she did. But 3 months in prison I think is a little harsh. There are people doing worse with no jail time. What are your thoughts? Post your comments below.