Earl Simmons, better known to his fans as DMX, has run into a little trouble with the law in recent times. He was arrested for tax fraud in July 2017 after being accused of "engaging in a multi-year scheme to conceal" money in
tax from the Internal Revenue Service. In December, the successful hip hop star
pleaded guilty to tax fraud, with the money he kept out of the hands of the IRS amounting to around $1.7 million.
The IRS had reportedly been following him since 2005, suspecting that he had evaded tax pay since 2002, but it turned out to be a lot more than they initially suspected. Apparently he insisted on being paid in cash whenever possible, while his many of his royalty payouts were diverted into his managers' bank accounts, who would then pay him in cash. He was conducting this scheme up until 2015, when the law discovered he was "systematically cheating on his taxes".
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US attorney Joon H. Kim said at the time that "no matter who you are or whatever fame you may have achieved, the law applies equally to all, and no one is exempt from the shared obligation to pay our taxes".
"Celebrity rapper or not, all Americans must pay their taxes," Kim added. "While raking in millions from his songs, including his 2003 hit ‘X Gon’ Give it to Ya,’ DMX didn’t give any of it to the IRS."
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He is facing 14 counts of
tax evasion, failure to file a tax return and corruptly trying to obstruct and impede the administration of IRS laws. He was granted bail, but the terms of his probation stated that he take drug tests and avoid substance abuse, which the rapper has had issues with over the years. Now, he has been taken into custody following the revelation that he had failed his drug tests. The judge referred to his agreement to the bail terms as a "big great lie".
TMZ reported that he tested positive for opiates, cocaine and oxycodone and the judge ruled that he was a flight risk during the case. DMX was supposed to be in rehab while on bail, but had been given some leeway to travel for various performances. In the hearing US Attorney Nicholas Biase references a video leaked last week, wherein he seemed "off" as he spoke at a St. Louis airport bar.
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Witnesses at the scene also said he was drinking and buying shots for other patrons, which is also breaking the rules of his bail.
DMX's lawyer, Murray Richman, said in a statement:
"I’m saddened and disappointed. We’ll have to deal with it accordingly. I’d like to tell you I have total control of his movements, I don’t. I cannot make excuses anymore."
Richman said that he will try and get him back into rehab, but it doesn't look too optimistic based on the tone of the statement above. The sentencing is dated for March.
