The guilty ruling in the Ja Rule tax case nets the rapper 28 months in jail. This comes on the heels of a two-year jail sentence after the rapper pled guilty to a gun possession charge in New York last year. However, as the rapper may be able to serve concurrent sentences, the 28-month sentence may only lead to a few extra months in jail for the already incarcerated rapper.
According to the Associated Press, Ja Rule pled guilty to failing to file income tax returns and was handed a 28-month prison sentence. He reportedly failed to pay taxes on more than $3 million that he earned between 2004 and 2006 while living in Saddle River, New Jersey.
Reportedly upset by the sentence, Ja Rule blamed his youth, bad advice, and inability to manage his money for the tax problems, reports the AP. He claimed that he did not intend to do anything illegal.
Just last month, Ja Rule began a 24-month prison sentence due to a gun charge in New York. Police had found an illegal loaded semiautomatic handgun in his car after he was pulled over for a speeding violation.
With the 28-month sentence following the 24-month sentence, one may think that Ja Rule would be spending the next 52 months in jail. But that won't be the case.
The New Jersey judge reportedly told the rapper that he could serve the majority of the 28-month tax evasion sentence concurrently with his New York prison sentence.
So what is the net result of the Ja Rule tax case?
If the rapper serves the entire 24-month prison term for his gun charge, he could presumably only have to serve an additional four months to satisfy the federal tax charge due to concurrent sentences.
Related Resources:
- Find a New York Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Jailed rapper Ja Rule gets 28 more months (Reuters)
- Sentencing of Convicted Criminals (FindLaw)
- 100 Year Sentence for Teen Sex Offender with 47 IQ: Concurrent Sentences Fair? (FindLaw Blotter)
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