This was for tax evasion. He started a three year sentence in Pennsylvania in December 2010, and is due to come out later this year. He was originally convicted in Florida in 2008 - the charge was of failing to send in his tax returns - but there were several appeals and legal wrangles before the sentence was finally agreed on.

According to the state prosecutors, Wesley Snipes earned at least £24 million between 1999 and 2004, but seems not to have paid any tax in that time. Snipes' defence is that his accountants basically told him what to do and he believed them, but this defence doesn't work in law.

When he does come out, he should be able to resume his acting career with no problems, in fact the publicity may even help him. Spike Lee visited him in prison earlier this year, and it is rumoured that Lee may be interested in working with him on a new project. If not, there are sure to be other offers.