A New Jersey judge has sentenced rap star Fat Joe to four-months in prison on tax evasion charges.
According to TMZ, the hip hop star appeared in a New Jersey court room earlier this week where prosecutors detailed charges he owes more than $1 million in federal income taxes. The judge ordered him to turn himself in by August 26.
Born Joseph Cartagena, the Bronx native pled guilty to the charges in December of last year, with prosecutors noting the withheld taxes stemmed from income earned in 2007 and 2008. According to CBS News, U.S. Magistrate Cathy Waldor explained she sentenced the rapper based on claims by the government that he evaded taxes on some $3 million in income. She estimated his failure to pay taxes resulted in a $718,038 lost for the government.
On Monday, Cartagena apologized to his family and fans for his criminal behavior before he was sentenced. He now lives in Miami Beach but he was prosecuted in New Jersey because some of the companies who paid his income were based in Somerville, N.J., which is located about 35 miles southwest of Newark.
The rapper was a platinum-selling artist who once topped the Billboard charts with singles like, "What's Luv," and "Lean Back."
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