DMX is fresh out of rehab and now behind bars after surrendering himself to authorities in New York City on Thursday on charges of tax evasion.
According to Joon Kim, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the 46-year-old rapper had his tax evasion scheme going on for a while.
“For years, Earl Simmons, the recording artist and performer known as DMX, made millions from his chart-topping songs, concert performances and television shows. But 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,” Kim stated. “Far from it, DMX allegedly went out of his way to evade taxes, including by avoiding personal bank accounts, setting up accounts in other’s names and paying personal expenses largely in cash.”
In DMX’s attempts to evade paying taxes, he repeatedly lied about his earning and listed 2011 and 2012 as “unknown,” even though he earned hundreds of thousands during that time period.
“Celebrity rapper or not, all Americans must pay their taxes,” Kim wrote, “and together with our partners at the IRS, we will pursue those who deliberately and criminally evade this basic obligation of citizenship.”
DMX is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning and could face 44 years in federal prison.
