Lauryn Hill has been sentenced to 3 months in prison after failing to pay taxes that amounted to almost US$1 million. Hill was facing a possible sentence of 3 years if she did not pay the sum of US$504,000 by a court issued deadline of 6th May.
Despite paying over US$900,000 before the deadline, Hill still received a 3 months sentence due to owing interest and penalties. Following the 3-month sentence Hill will serve another 3 months of home confinement as part of a 1 year parole due.
On top of her sentence, Hill also received an additional US$60,000 fine.
Hill failed to lodge a tax return between 2005-2007, in which time the award-winning musician earned a total of US$1.8 million. Last summer Hill pleaded guilty to the 3 misdemeanour counts, with each count carry a possible maximum sentence of one year.
Hill’s 3-month sentencing also factored in unpaid federal and state taxes in 2008 and 2009, which totalled US$500,000. The 37-year-old Hill will begin her 3-month sentence on 8th July. Where Hill will serve time is yet to be revealed.
Before her sentencing Hill addressed the court and US. Magistrate Madeline Cox Arleo, stating that she was, “A child of former slaves who had a system imposed on them… I had an economic system imposed on me.”
Although Hill’s creative and charity work were taken into consideration, Assistant US Attorney Sandra Moser described Hill’s explanation as “a parade of excuses centering around her feeling put-upon”.
Hill recently released a new song titled Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix) as part of a new deal with Sony, dealing in part with those feelings. As well as the fairly cynical ‘Compulsory Mix’ tag, Hill’s feelings towards the release of her new music were made clear in a note she posted to Facebook accompanying the release, where she claims she was “required” to release the new music as part of the new deal:
“Here is a link to a piece that I was ‘required’ to release immediately, by virtue of the impending legal deadline. I love being able to reach people directly, but in an ideal scenario, I would not have to rush the release of new music.”
Take a listen below.
Listen: Ms Lauryn Hill- Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
http://youtu.be/jBBxFKCAaCo
(via The Associated Press)
