Rapper Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena, 42, has been sentenced to four months in prison and fined $15,000 for failing to pay taxes on more than $3.3 million in income. In December 2012, he pleaded guilty in a New Jersey court for failure to pay taxes on income earned between 2007-2008.
Fat Joe was facing up to two years in prison but U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy Waldor took into account his payment of $718,000 in back taxes prior to sentencing and his charitable work, which included donating computers to local schools.
Joe’s income came from his companies, Terror Squad Production Inc. and Miramar Music Touring, and performing hit songs like “Lean Back” and “What’s Luv” (with Ashanti and Ja Rule).
“There was a lot going on in the years that I didn’t file my taxes, but it was my responsibility,” Fat Joe told the court. “I did everything I could to achieve what I could, to move my family; I tried to stay positive, focus on the positive, and get myself out.”
He is scheduled to report to prison on Aug. 26.
