DMX has been charged with tax evasion in Manhattan federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York. Earl Simmons turned himself over to law enforcement earlier today and will appear in court tomorrow. He was arrested for “engaging in a multi-year scheme” to hide his income, and withholding $1.7 million in taxes from earnings he made between 2002 and 2005. “DMX allegedly went out of his way to evade taxes, including by avoiding personal bank accounts, setting up accounts in other’s names and paying personal expenses largely in cash,” acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said.
“He even allegedly refused to tape the television show ‘Celebrity Couples Therapy’ until a properly issued check he was issued was reissued without withholding any taxes. Celebrity rapper or not, all Americans must pay their taxes, and together with our partners at the IRS, we will pursue those who deliberately and criminally evade this basic obligation of citizenship.” Simmons has also been accused of filing a false affidavit with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. According to the IRS, although he earned upwards of hundreds of thousands between 2011 and 2013, he instead claimed his earnings were “unknown” in 2011 and 2012, and stated he made $10,000 in 2013.
