Rapper, Fat Joe Goes To Jail For Tax Evasion

Fat Joe has been sentenced to four months in prison after failing to file tax returns between 2007 and 2010.

The rapper earned £1.9m in the period and had originally faced two years in prison after pleading guilty to the charges in December 2012. Fat Joe will serve four months and was fined £12,000.

After pleading guilty last year Fat Joe has paid over £500,000 in back taxes. During the trial Fat Joe's lawyers reportedly asked for leniency in light of a similar case involving Lauryn Hill earlier this year.

Reuters reveals that more than 60 letters were sent to the court on behalf of the rapper, real name Joseph Cartenega, including one from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, who cited his charity work, specifically donating computers to local schools. As well as pleading guilty, Cartanega apologised to his family and friends and revealed that his six-year-old daughter was being taunted in school by classmates who said her father was going to jail.

 "There was a lot going on in the years that I didn't file my taxes, but it was my responsibility," he said. 

Fat Joe, who is best known for his hit-singles including 'What's Luv?', 'Lean Back' and 'Make It Rain', released his debut album 'Me, Myself & I' in 2006 and his most recent studio offering 'The Darkside Vol. 1' in 2010. He hasn't released a studio LP since although a follow-up mix-tape, titled 'The Darkside Vol. 2', did come out in 2011.