By: Taren Vaughan
Just a few days ago, R&B singer Lauryn Hill announced to her anxious fans that she was putting out new music and explained her hiatus from music as many of them wondered if she would ever pick up a microphone again. Lauryn just recently revealed that she landed a new record deal with Sony Music and put out some of her new music for her fans shortly after landing the deal. Despite managing to pay a sizable chunk of money that she owed in taxes, it is now being reported by TMZ that Lauryn Hill has been sentenced to 3 months in federal prison for tax evasion.
Here’s the report:
A judge in Newark, New Jersey dished out the sentence moments ago … and told Hill that after she completes her stint behind bars, she’ll spend 3 more months on house arrest … followed by 9 months of supervised release.
Before the hearing, Hill’s attorney told the media the singer scraped together more than $970,000 to repay her debt to the government.
The 37-year-old former Fugee 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 kids … but the judge wasn’t buying it.
During the hearing, the judge ordered Hill to report to prison by July 8. It’s unclear where Hill will serve her time.
TMZ also claims that Lauryn Hill was present during the hearing, and offered a statement to the judge, the singer comparing the current situation that she is facing to slavery.
Lauryn says:
“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.”
Welp. I hate to hear this.
OH NO!!! This woman has children she already paid the past taxes. Why are people always trying to make an example out of the black celebrities. I just can’t
Right! These black celebs always learn the hard way. We don’t get passes, even when we’re famous.
Ain’t that the truth!
I agree with the both of you.
She should have paid her taxes. No one gets a pass from the IRS. And to top it off, she’s still talking crazy. What does selling 50 mil records have to do with paying the taxes you owe?! We all have to pay taxes. I paid mine, you pay yours Lauryn.
Damn! This sucks.
Wow, I thought she was going to avoid jail because she paid. Man…
Well damn. I thought there was hope.
Sorry Lauryn, but you can’t take down the IRS. They will beat you every time. I hope she only actually serves like one month.
Sheesh.
Oh wow.
I kind of figured she’d get jail time. Especially, with the media labeling her as crazy.