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Rapper Ja Rule left a New York prison Thursday morning after serving most of his sentence for illegal gun possession and was taken into federal custody to fulfill the sentence on a tax case, according to The Associated Press.
Photo provided by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Jeffrey Atkins, also known as the rapper “Ja Rule” is shown. (AP Photo/New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision)
The hip hop star was originally sentenced to 28 months in prison for failing to file federal income tax returns over a five-year period. In explaining his actions Ja Rule told a federal judge that he had received bad financial advice and had trouble coping with fame.
“I in no way attempted to deceive the government or do anything illegal,” he said. “I was a young man who made a lot of money — I’m getting a little choked up — I didn’t know how to deal with these finances, and I didn’t have people to guide me, so I made mistakes.”
Ja Rule admits he failed to pay more than $3 million in taxes while living in New Jersey.
