Felonies

It’s previously been reported that Nicolas Cage owed the IRS over $6-million in back-taxes from the year 2007 alone and was reportedly a number of payments behind on a $2-million line of credit from one of his banks.

In an effort to make sure they get paid, the IRS put a federal tax lien on the actor’s various pieces of real estate on Dec. 31 in addition to another bill of over $6-million to cover all unpaid taxes for 2008.

In total, Cage now owes the IRS about $14-million. Yikes.

In attempt to clear things up, Cage told TMZ, “Over the course of my career I have paid at least $70 million in taxes. Unfortunately, due to a recent legal situation, another approximate $14 million is owed to the IRS. However, I am under new business management and am happy to say that I am current for 2009. All taxes will be paid including any to be determined state taxes.”

Tax evasion is a felony, and Cage is certainly not the first celebrity to break the law and avoid paying the IRS. Why is it that celebs think they’re above the law and can evade paying taxes with no penalty?

As Ben Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”

The moment many people have been waiting for has finally arrived. The L.A. Police Department has closed its investigation of Michael Jackson’s death and the case will now go to the District Attorney within the next few weeks.

Since Jackson’s death on June 25, a widespread and extended investigation took place over the past six months with most fingers pointing at Dr. Conrad Murray, the last doctor to see Jackson alive. According to sources, enough evidence has built up against Murray and he will most likely be found responsible for Jackson’s death and will be criminally charged.

Following Jackson’s death, many people believed Murray was responsible for his passing by administering the singer a lethal mix of drugs including Propofol, a strong sedative used most commonly for anesthesia. It is said that Murray’s administration of the drug to Jackson – who was allegedly dependent on it – complicated the case because Murray did not break any laws while giving the Propofol to the singer.

Murray, however, may face involuntary manslaughter charges as a result of negligently prescribing a toxic mixture of drugs to Jackson. Murray, who has returned to his practice in Texas, will most likely be charged within the next couple of weeks.

T.I. may be getting handed a “get out of jail free” card.  Well sort off?  Maybe.  Hip Hop recording artist T.I. pleaded guilty to illegal firearm possession charges in May.  It seems that the artist must have a solid criminal defense attorney.  And by solid, I mean he may be released early to a halfway house to finish his sentence in January 2010.

Hip-Hop Artist T.I.

Edmond Ross, who is a Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson explained that it is not a rarity for inmates to serve the last part of their sentence in a halfway house in order to help them ease their way back into life outside of prison.

If T.I. gets cut a break he’s still not quite done making up for his mistakes.  His March 2008 plea deal included the following stipulations:

• 1,500 hours of community service speaking to at-risk youth
• $100,000 fine
• A year of house arrest after prison
• 2 years probation

T.I. was arrested at the end of the 2007 BET Hip-Hop Awards.  He was attempting to acquire silencers and machine guns from his bodyguard who had made purchases from undercover officers.

It’s no surprise to many that Richard and Mayumi Heene – the Colorado couple who said their son was aboard an escaped balloon in October – pleaded guilty to charges.

The parents plead guilty to criminal charges of staging the event in a publicity-seeking hoax after telling authorities their 6-year-old son Falcon was trapped inside a large silver balloon floating over eastern Colorado.

On Oct. 15, millions of people across the U.S. tuned in to watch the scene for almost two hours as military aircraft tracked the floating balloon in the air and rescuers chased it on the ground.  Everyone thought that the little boy was trapped inside floating high in the sky without any way out, when in actuality he was safe in the Heene’s home the entire time.

When asked why he didn’t come out of hiding when his parents were supposedly calling for him, Falcon accidentally admitted it was a hoax saying to his parents, “You guys said that we did it for the show.”

To make sure Mayumi, a Japanese citizen, would not face felony charges that could lead to her deportation, the couple plead guilty to multiple charges as part of a plea deal. Richard plead guilty to the felony of “attempting to influence a public servant” and faces the possible penalty of two to six years in prison and a fine of $2,000 to $500,000. His wife Mayumi plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “making a false report to authorities” and faces a possible sentence of six months in county jail and a fine of $50 to $750.

According to their lawyers, both are hoping for probation and are scheduled to return to court Dec. 23 for sentencing.

Although the Heenes were attempting to gain positive publicity by staging the incident and getting their 15 minutes of fame, it only brought along negative media attention and serious legal repercussions. Don’t try this at home; especially if your 6-year-old has a big mouth.

To learn more about the potential penalties relating to various felonies and misdemeanors in Colorado, take a look at the the list of Colorado Penalties for a variety of criminal charges.

President Barack Obama was scheduled to campaign for Gov. Jon Corzine last Wednesday, but faced an unexpected – and frightening – speed bump in his travels to New Jersey last week.

A Continental Airlines employee overheard John Brek, a private security guard at Newark Liberty International Airport, make threatening remarks about shooting the president at an airport coffee stand the day before the president was to fly into New Jersey.

Port Authority police arrested Brek and charged him with three state felonies including making “terroristic threats” against the president under state law. Brek, however, denied making the threats and plead not guilty to the charges.

Following an interview, Brek allowed the police and Secret Service to search his home in Linden, and officers found 43 firearms, none of which were found to be illegal guns.

Federal charges, however, have not been filed, and there is a possibility federal prosecutors will not prosecute.

According to officials, Brek was licensed as a security guard after he met the required criminal background checks and received authority permission to work at the airport after he cleared the required FBI and 10-year screening.

According to the Port Authority Friday, Brek again passed all federal background checks. However, under New Jersey security guard licensing requirements, psychological evaluation isn’t required. Prosecutors are now seeking a psychiatric assessment as part of their case against Brek.

Brek is currently an employee of FJC Security Services Inc., which is contracted by the Port Authority. According to FJC officials, the company is still working with authorities to investigate Brek’s alleged threat against the president.