Policy

Rapper "Fat Joe" Given Four Month Prison Sentence For Not Filing Tax Returns

Pleaded guilty

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(CBS/AP) NEWARK, N.J.– The rapper "Fat Joe" was sentenced to four months in prison on Monday in New Jersey for failing to file federal income taxes.

The singer, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, pleaded guilty in December 2012 after he withheld taxes on over $1 million of income in 2007 and 2008.

On Monday, Cartagena apologized to his family and fans for his criminal behavior before he was sentenced in a federal court in Newark.

U.S. Magistrate Cathy Waldor said she sentenced the defendant based on claim's by the U.S. government that Cartagena evaded taxes on some $3 million of income between 2007 and 2010. His failure to pay income tax resulted in an estimated $718,038 lost in government tax income.