Isley Brothers
frontman Ronald "Mr. Biggs" Isley has been sentenced to three years
and a month in prison for tax evasion.Isley,
who was facing up to 26-years in prison, was convicted last year on five counts
of tax evasion in Nov. of 2005. The
65-year-old singer was paid millions of dollars in performance fees between 1997
and 2002 without paying taxes. The
R&B legend, labeled a "serial tax avoider," also cashed royalty
checks belonging to his brother O’Kelly Isley, and put a yacht and homes in his
wife’s name to avoid paying taxes. In
addition to the prison time, Isley, who has been paying down his debt to the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS), was also ordered to pay $3.1 million dollars to the government.
Defense
attorney’s for Isley unsuccessfully argued that the death of two of the singer’s
accountants prevented him from paying taxes during the five-year period in question.
Isley
is expected to serve his time in a prison hospital, due to complications from
a 2004 stroke he suffered in London and his battle with kidney cancer.Ron
Isley, along with the Isley Brothers launched their careers in the mid-50’s and
have been releasing albums almost every year since.As
Mr. Biggs, Isley collaborated with various rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Lil’
Kim.In
May 2006, The Isley Brothers released their latest album, Baby Makin’ Music.