Rapper Fat Joe Sentenced to Four Months in Prison For Tax Evasion

Fat Joe may no longer be cracking out the hits, but he will be big in the big house. The 42-year-old rapper, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena was sentenced to four months in prison Monday over his earlier admission that he failed to file federal income taxes for two years. According to prosecutors, Joseph failed to pay taxes on some $3 million in income for the years 2007 through 2010. Federal prosecutors said the total tax loss to the government for those four years was $718,038. He pleaded guilty last December. Defense Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said outside the federal court in Newark, NJ -- the same courthouse where Lauryn Hill was also sentenced to jail for tax evasion -- that Joseph had liquidated his retirement account to start paying the money back. In addition to the prison term, Joseph was sentenced to one year of supervised release and fined $15,000. He must report to prison by Aug. 26.

source: AP