October 9, 2009 15:12
Method Man facing four years in prison over tax evasion
Wu-Tang Clan man and 'The Wire' actor arrested in New York
Method Man has been arrested and charged with tax evasion in New York.
The Wu Tang Clan rapper, real name Clifford Smith, turned himself in to police on Monday (October 5), after an arrest warrant was issued due to him reportedly failing to pay almost $33,000 (£20,700) in personal income taxes.
His arrest was confirmed in a press release from the district attorney's office in New York's Staten Island, reports MTV News.
The rapper has been charged with a repeated failure to file personal income and earnings tax, along with a further charge of misdemeanour failure to pay tax.
If found guilty of the offences, Method Man could face up to four years in prison.
A court date is yet to be set, but Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said the rapper will not receive any special treatment when his case is investigated.
"Taxes are a burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you're an average Joe on the street or a high-profile rap artist," Donovan said in a statement. "Because of the alleged action of people like Mr Smith, law abiding citizens face higher taxes and reduced government services."
Along with being a member of the Wu Tang Clan and a solo artist, Method Man has also pursued a career in acting, most notably as Calvin 'Cheese' Wagstaff in 'The Wire'.
Visit NME Video for the latest music videos and artist interviews
- Previous: Fratellis side-project Codeine Velvet Club announce UK tour and ticket details
- Next: Marina & The Diamonds to miss Coventry Fly53 NME Radar Tour show
You may need to upgrade your Flash Player
You can download the latest flash plugin here.
If you have installed flash but keep getting this message:
1. Try to bypass flash plugin detection here.
2. Ensure you have javascript enabled in your browser.
3. Try using Firefox
Listen to more Free Music at we7.com








Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page