Lauryn
Hill Sentenced To Prison For Failing To File Tax Returns
Former
Fugee, a South Orange resident, didn't file returns for
five years
Eight-time Grammy winning singer Lauryn Hill, second right,
walks to federal court in Newark, N.J., Monday, May 6,
2013, for sentencing in her tax evasion case. Hill pleaded
guilty last year to not paying federal taxes on $1.8
million earned from 2005 to 2007. She faces up to a year in
prison on each of three counts. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) AP
Photo/Mel Evans
Photos
Credit
AP Photo/Mel Evans
Credit
AP Photo/Mel Evans
Singer Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in prison
Monday for not paying taxes on more than $2.3 million in
earnings over a five year period.
The eight-time Grammy winner faced up to three years in
federal prison after after pleaded guilty in federal court in June 2012 to
failing to file tax returns. The South Orange resident must
also serve three months of home confinement.
During a three hour proceeding before Federal Magistrate
Madeline Cox Arleo, Hill’s attorney Nathan Hochman argued
that the former Fugee should receive probation with no
period of incarceration or, at worst, home confinement.
Hill told the court that the burdens of fame complicated
her efforts to earn money and that she had been thrust into
a industry at a young age not fully understanding the
consequences. Describing herself as “the child of former
slaves,” Hill said she was forced to choose between her
artistic integrity and the commercial demand to put out
more hit music.
“I was ushered into a system I didn’t really understand the
nature of, its violence, its need to squeeze every dime
from a talent such as myself,” Hill said. “This industry
creates an illusion of wealth and success that takes a toll
on an individual.”
Hochman, in arguing for a “downward departure” from the
sentencing guidelines, said Hill merely failed to pay taxes
and did not submit a fraudulent return or attempt to
conceal assets.
Hochman cited other high-profile defendants, such as singer
Willie Nelson and actor Nicholas Cage, who did not serve
jail time in tax cases. Hill has repaid all $900,000 in
taxes she owed, Hochman said.
Hochman also cited Hill’s charitable work and her family
obligations as a single mother of six in arguing for a
reduced sentence.
“As the court is aware Ms. Hill is the primary caregiver of
six children between the ages of 15 years and 21 months,”
Hochman said.
Hill told the court that the period when she failed to file
tax returns was a time when she was intentionally pulling
back from the limelight for the sake of her family in order
to live “underground.”
The government, represented by Assistant US Attorney Sandra
Moser, countered that Hill always had ample funds to pay
the taxes that she owed and that she had done almost no
charitable work for years until her recent troubles with
the IRS.
Moser also said that Hill had the resources to care for her
large family if she were imprisoned, including support
payments of $15,000 a month provided by Rohan Marley, the
father of several of the of the children. Marley is the son
of reggae legend Bob Marley.
“The defendant does not deserve a get-out-of-jail card for
deigning to pay what she owes,” Moser said.
Arleo rejected Hill’s request for no jail time, citing
precedent and also expressing skepticism regarding Hill’s
claim that her failure to file tax returns somehow stemmed
from her self-imposed isolation from public life.
“[Paying taxes] can be done quietly and underground,” Arleo
said.
But Arleo also noted that Hill had made restitution, had no
prior criminal history and that her family obligations were
still significant enough to warrant a much lighter sentence
than the maximum allowed under guidelines.
Hill’s sentence is to begin by July 8. Arleo agreed to pass
on a request from Hochman that Hill serve her time in a
facility near her family.
Hill released a new song, "Neurotic Society (Compulsory
Mix)" on Friday.