*Wesley Snipes must begin serving his federal prison sentence on June 3rd unless he can convince a judge to grant him bail while he appeals his three federal tax convictions, reports the Associated Press.
U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges last month sentenced Snipes to three years in prison, but the actor's attorneys plan to argue before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Hodges erred in several ways before and after his February conviction.
Snipes' attorneys argue that Hodges gave the jury bad instructions and should have granted them an expanded pretrial hearing on their request to move the proceedings.
For bail to be granted during the appeal, the 45-year-old film star must prove that he has a substantial issue to raise and isn't a flight risk. Prosecutors said Snipes had no major issues to raise and has demonstrated he could flee.
In a Monday filing, U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill said Snipes told the probation office he had less than $10,000 in liquid assets, but the actor surprised the government by producing $5 million in payment for back taxes at his sentencing.
"His apparent lack of candor about his assets, combined with trial evidence that he has transferred millions of dollars offshore, show some risk of flight," O'Neill wrote.
U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges last month sentenced Snipes to three years in prison, but the actor's attorneys plan to argue before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Hodges erred in several ways before and after his February conviction.
Snipes' attorneys argue that Hodges gave the jury bad instructions and should have granted them an expanded pretrial hearing on their request to move the proceedings.
For bail to be granted during the appeal, the 45-year-old film star must prove that he has a substantial issue to raise and isn't a flight risk. Prosecutors said Snipes had no major issues to raise and has demonstrated he could flee.
In a Monday filing, U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill said Snipes told the probation office he had less than $10,000 in liquid assets, but the actor surprised the government by producing $5 million in payment for back taxes at his sentencing.
"His apparent lack of candor about his assets, combined with trial evidence that he has transferred millions of dollars offshore, show some risk of flight," O'Neill wrote.
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