| Method Man, formerly of Wu-Tang Clan, arrested for tax evasion |
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| Written by The Watcher |
| Monday, 05 October 2009 12:12 |
 The Staten Island rapper, actor and producer known as Method Man was tagged with another label Monday: tax cheat. The 38-year-old Grammy-winning artist, a founding member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, was arrested for stiffing the tax man out of $32,799. Method Man, whose real name is Clifford Smith, is accused of failing to pay New York State income taxes between 2004 and 2007. He faces up to four years in prison, if convicted. "Taxes are a burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you are an "average Joe" on the street or a high-profile rap artist," Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said. The divorced father of four, who grew up and still lives in Staten Island, Method Man shared a Grammy with Mary J. Blige for their 1995 song "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By." He had a recurring role on HBO's "The Wire," as drug crew chief Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff. His Lincoln Navigator was repossessed in 2008, when he reportedly fell $52,503 in arrears In 2007, he was busted for marijuana possession and driving under the influence. |
