Hollywood star Wesley Snipes will serve three years in jail for tax evasion.

In February (08) the Blade actor was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years. The star was acquitted of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanour counts of wilful failure to file a tax return.

But on Thursday (24Apr08) in Florida, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges sentenced Snipes to three years imprisonment.

Earlier this week (23Apr08), Snipes' famous friends, like actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington, sent letters to the judge as character references.

The actor's attorneys argued that Snipes' crimes did not warrant a prison sentence, and that the star should be given probation.

Details of when Snipes will have to surrender to prison, and where he will serve his sentence have not been released. (LJ/WNV/KL)

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