Method Man Charged With Tax Evasion

Rapper Method Man is facing up to four years behind bars after authorities in New York charged him with tax evasion.

The Wu Tang rapper - real name Clifford Smith - surrendered to police on Monday (05Oct09) and was arraigned in Staten Island's Stapleton Criminal Court.

He is accused of failing to pay personal income tax from 2004 to 2007, totalling $32,799 (Gbp21,870) not including fees and penalties.

He faces a felony charge of repeated failure to file personal income and earnings tax. He also faces a misdemeanour charge of failure to pay tax.

Prosecutors have vowed to fiercely go after the star. District Attorney Daniel Donovan says, "Taxes are the burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you are an 'average Joe' on thestreet or a high-profile rap artist.

Because of the alleged action of people like Mr Smith, law abiding citizens face higher taxes and reduced government services. Failure to properly report and pay your taxes is a crime against all citizens and will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted".

This is not the first of the rapper's financial woes.

In March (09), the Smith's 2008 Lincoln Navigator was repossessed from outside his Staten Island by the Department of Taxation amid reports he owed the government $52,503 (Gbp35,000) in back taxes.