additional reporting by Shaheem Reid
Some of the greatest entertainers of all time have suffered from tax issues, and it looks like DMX is having similar troubles. The rap legend has reportedly surrendered himself to law enforcement, after being indicted on 14 counts of tax evasion.
TMZ reports that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York City has accused DMX of concealing his income for several years during the heights of his success, saying that he owes $1.7 million in taxes to the IRS.
Federal prosecutors say that X has been using cash and other surrogates’ bank accounts instead of his own personal bank accounts to avoid paying taxes. The indictment reportedly says that he listed his income as “unknown” in 2011 and 2012, despite making six-figure amounts in each year – and that he underreported his 2013 income as $10,000, when it was really $250,000.
If DMX is convicted on all 14 counts, he is facing up to 44 years in federal prison.
Accusations of tax evasion are the latest issues that X is battling: in April he checked into rehab to pursue treatment for his drug addiction that has haunted him for years on end.