Method Man, whose real name is Clifford Smith, turned himself in yesterday morning. He is being charged with repeated failure to file a return and failure to pay taxes.
"Taxes are a burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you are an 'average Joe' on the street or a high-profile rap artist," Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said, according to the New York Daily News.
The rapper’s Lincoln Navigator was repossessed in March because he owed $52,503 to the IRS at the time, according to MTV.co.uk.
Method Man was released without bail and is scheduled to return to court Dec. 9, according to the Daily News. If convicted he could face up to four years in prison.
MTV noted that Method Man has publicly said he blames memory loss from smoking too much Marijuana for the reason behind his missed tax payments.
He was arrested and charged in 2007 with unlawful possession of marijuana, criminal possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle under the influence and driving an un-inspected motor vehicle.
The rapper, who won a Grammy in 1995 for best rap performance by a group or duo with Mary J. Blige for "I'll Be There For You/You're All That I Need," is one of the founders of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. He has a recurring role on the HBO drama “The Wire” as Calvin “Cheese” Wagstaff and his film career has included roles in movies such as 2001’s “How High,” 2004’s “Garden State” and 2008’s “The Wackness.”
Method Man is set to tour as support for Snoop Dogg, along with Redman and Devin the Dude. The fall U.S. tour kicks off Oct. 27 at Rams Head Live in Baltimore and wraps up Nov. 8 at the House of Blues in Dallas.
Click here and here for the New York Daily News stories.
Click here for the MTV.co.uk story.