This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/6059920.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Actor Snipes accused of tax fraud Arrest warrant for actor Snipes
(about 2 hours later)
Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes has been charged with plotting to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which collects taxes in the US. An arrest warrant has been issued for Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who is charged with dodging millions of dollars in taxes.
The 44-year-old star of Blade and Demolition Man faces a total of eight charges, according to the IRS. The 44-year-old star of Demolition Man and Blade is accused of failing to file tax returns and falsely claiming nearly $12m (£6.4m) in refunds.
The charges include failing to file tax returns and trying to cheat the government of nearly $12m (£6.4m) in false refund claims between 1996-1997. Prosecutors say he faces up to 16 years in jail if found guilty.
A warrant had been issued for the actor's arrest, the IRS said. Mr Snipes' former accountant has already surrendered to authorities, but the actor's whereabouts are unknown.
His spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
Fraudulent returns
The charges allege Mr Snipes failed to file tax returns between 1999 and 2004, and conspired with two men to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which collects taxes in the US.
Prosecutors say Eddie Kahn and Douglas Rosile, both from Florida, attempted to make it look like the actor had no liability for income tax.
The actor has not yet been located, said US Attorney Paul PerezMr Khan's firm, American Rights Litigators, is said to have fraudulently argued that US citizens could only be taxed on income earned overseas.
Mr Rosile, who was an accountant for the firm, is accused of illegally preparing tax returns for Mr Snipes on this basis.
He has surrendered to authorities while Mr Khan is believed to be in Panama.
Screen career
Mr Snipes, who was born in Orlando, Florida, has been a Hollywood actor for 20 years.
His first role was in Goldie Hawn's 1986 American football comedy, Wildcats, and he later appeared in the video for Michael Jackson's Bad, which was directed by Martin Scorsese.
The actor also appeared in hit films such as White Men Can't Jump, New Jack City and the Blade trilogy.
Later this year, he is due to start filming an historical epic based on the life of Haitian military leader Toussaint L'Ouverture.