Twista faces up to five years in federal prison after entering a guilty plea in a federal tax evasion case.
The Chicago rapper, born Carl Mitchell, pleaded guilty last week to five counts of “willfully failing to pay income tax,” the Internal Revenue Service said in a press release on June 26.
Each count carries a maximum of one year in prison. Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge on Oct. 22.
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The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, the law enforcement arm of the agency.
“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,” said Adam Jobes, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office.
According to the agency, the rapper admitted to failing to pay taxes between 2019 and 2023, despite earning income from performances, album sales, streaming platforms, and royalties.
While the charges stemmed from a specific five-year period, the IRS alleged Mitchell has unpaid tax liabilities dating back to 2011 and owes the federal government more than $440,000.
“Mr. Mitchell was warned by both the IRS and his own accountant, yet he chose to keep dodging his tax obligations. That’s a choice—not a mistake,” Jobes stated. “Too many honest Americans work hard, pay their taxes, and do the right thing to tolerate someone who believes the rules don’t apply to them.”
Members of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division in Illinois tried the case. Prosecutors alleged the hip-hop star continued to make large purchases, including buying “at least four luxury vehicles,” while ignoring warnings to pay back taxes.
A rep for Mitchell did not immediately respond to Urban Hollywood 411′s request for comment on the case.
The Grammy-nominated performer is known for his rapid-fire “chopper style” of rapping.
After breaking out from Chicago’s underground music scene in the early 1990s, he scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the 2003 single “Slow Jamz” featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.
The following year Twista landed a Top 10 hit when his single “Overnight Celebrity” peaked at No. 6 and spent a total 20 weeks on the Hot 100 chart, according to Billboard.
The rapper has also collaborated with Lil Jon, Trick Daddy, Trey Songz, Mariah Carey, Travis Barker, and Lady Gaga.
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