DMX plead guilty to one count of tax evasion today before a federal judge in New York.
"Today, Earl Simmons admitted to systematically cheating on his taxes. By insisting to be paid in cash whenever possible and having royalty payments diverted to the accounts of financial surrogates, Simmons concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars of income from the IRS," Joon H. Kim, the acting United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said. "Simmons made a choice between ‘Right or Wrong,’ and did the right thing, admitting his guilt, and agreeing to pay his tax liabilities."
X's lawyer Murray Richman said his client takes responsibility for his actions.
“He’s of the opinion that he’s guilty because he didn’t properly supervise his own life. He gave the responsibility of paying his taxes to others but he knows it was his responsibility. He’s owning up to it at this particular point.”
While X had been facing 40 years in prison, this plea takes him down to a maximum of five. He will also have to pay back the $1.7 million the IRS says he owes them. So stream his new Christmas single.
He will be sentenced March 29.