DMX has pled guilty to tax fraud after he avoided paying $1.7 million in taxes for five years, Reuters reports.
“I failed to file taxes,” the rapper told U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff. “I'm responsible, even placing other people in charge of it.”
Prosecutors accused him of hiding millions of dollars that he earned from his catalog throughout the years. Between 2000 and 2005, he got away with this by allegedly living a “cash only lifestyle” and depositing royalty checks in other people’s accounts. These accounts belonged to multiple managers, the rapper's ex-wife, and even the mother of one of his 15 children.
He had previously pled not guilty to the same charges in July, and was released on a $500,000 bond. Bail conditions stipulated that DMX could not leave New York, but the judge did eventually grant him permission to perform in Denver, Los Angeles, and New Orleans.
But on Thursday, the rapper finally gave in and pled guilty; his sentencing will take place in March 2018. He faces charges including up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and $100,000 in fines. He will also have to pay the $1.7 million in back taxes.
DMX told reporters outside the courtroom that he was relieved this phase of the trial was over. The rapper is no stranger to issues with the law; he has a list of previous arrests that include charges of reckless driving, drug possession, weapons charges, and probation violations. He has also served time before in a prison in Arizona.
