Chicago-based rapper, popularly called Twista, pleads guilty to willfully failing to pay taxes. The rapper, whose original name is Carl Mitchell, now faces a potential prison sentence after admitting to tax offenses.
Twista’s guilty plea explained
Mitchell pleaded guilty to five counts last week in front of the federal court for willfully failing to pay taxes. He failed to pay taxes from 2019 to 2023, owing more than $440,000.
According to ABC News, the rapper continued to avoid taxes despite several warnings from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). IRS, in a statement, said, “Instead, Mitchell entered into agreements with a third-party company to pay him advances on future royalties, knowing that the IRS would not be able to levy these funds.”
Adam Jobes, working at the IRS Chicago field office, said, “IRS Criminal Investigation doesn’t care how famous you are or what you’ve accomplished. If you willfully refuse to pay your taxes, we’ll follow the money and bring you to justice.”
The rapper also has some tax liabilities from 2011. He continues to support his luxury lifestyle, buying luxury vehicles and properties, but fails to pay taxes despite continuous warnings.
Known for Kamikaze, he also collaborated with Kanye West in 2004 and has received 2 Grammy nominations. His income streams from performances, live streams, royalties, and YouTube, as per reports.
The Grammy-nominated rapper is scheduled to sentence on October 2022. According to ABC News, he can face up to five years of prison time, one year for each tax offense. He might be asked to pay for compensation depending on the final decision by the judge. Such a high-profile case has sparked online discussion over tax compliance by popular faces, with the federal government handling them with the same standard as everyone else.
Though Twista has not made any public comment on his plea, as the case moves forward to sentencing, his legal troubles continue to gain attention.
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Originally reported by Aman Sharma for Mandatory
