Lauryn Hill Sentenced, Fugees Member Headed To Prison

Written By S. Samuel

Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill has reportedly been sentenced to three months behind bars despite paying off her outstanding tax debts hours before today's sentencing.

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Although her lawyer sought out a probation punishment, Hill received three months out of a possible twelve-month sentence.

Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill was sentenced Monday in New Jersey to 3 months in prison on federal tax charges. Hill pleaded guilty last year to not paying federal taxes on $1.8 million earned from 2005 to 2007. A judge two weeks ago said Hill had paid only about $50,000 of more than $500,000 she owes. She faced up to a year in prison on each of three counts. Her attorney was seeking probation for her. (ABC Local)

Details of Hill’s seemingly overnight weekend payout bubbled online Sunday (May 5).

Lauryn Hill, on the eve of her scheduled sentencing on federal tax evasion charges, has paid off the balance of more than $900,000 she owed in back taxes and penalties, her attorney said on Sunday. The Grammy-winning musician is scheduled for sentencing on Monday in U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey on three charges she failed to file tax returns on more than $1.8 million between 2005 and 2007. She faces up to a year in jail for each charge, but the final sentence is expected to be adjusted based on her repayment of the money, her attorney said. She owed at least $504,000 in federal back taxes as well as state taxes and penalties that brought the estimated total to more than $900,000. (amNY)

Hill’s attorney also spoke on the hefty legal case and how she has fulfilled all outstanding debts.

“Ms Hill has not only now fully paid prior to sentencing her taxes, which are part of her criminal restitution, but she has additionally fully paid her federal and state personal taxes for the entire period under examination through 2009,” her attorney, Nathan Hochman, said in an email. (amNY)

Over the weekend, Lauryn penned a new record.

It’s been 15 years since Lauryn Hill released her debut solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Since then she hasn’t been a huge presence in the music scene … until now. Hill, 37, released a new song “Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)” on her Tumblr page Saturday and stayed true to her outspoken, candid delivery by referencing her dismay over our “toxic society.” “Hello All: Here is a link to a piece that I was ‘required’ to release immediately, by virtue of the impending legal deadline,” she wrote. “I love being able to reach people directly, but in an ideal scenario, I would not have to rush the release of new music … but the message is still there.” (NY Daily News)

Last month, Hill received additional time to get her finances in place before being sentenced in her tax case.

Lauryn Hill just bought herself a couple weeks of freedom. The R&B legend was to be sentenced to prison today after pleading guilty to blowing off her 2005-2007 tax returns … but the sentencing was moved to May 6 to give Lauryn a chance to repay a chunk of her $968,000 tax debt. Hill’s attorney said the singer recently signed a million-dollar recording deal with Sony … she was also planning to take out a $650,000 loan to put toward the bill. Hill faces several years in prison … but her attorney is hoping for probation. (TMZ)

There are no details on when or where Hill will spend her time as of press time.

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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