Wesley Snipes released from prison after serving three years for tax evasion

Out of jail: Wesley Snipes was released from prison after serving a three-year sentence for tax evasion

After nearly three years in prison, Wesley Snipes is almost free man.

The Blade star was released this week from a Pennsylvania prison and transferred to house arrest after being admitted in 2010 on charges of federal tax evasion.

According to TMZ, the 50-year-old actor left the McKean Federal Corrections on Tuesday, several months shy of his 36 month sentence.

Snipes is no longer listed as an inmate at the rural facility, and is now listed on the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons as being under the watchful eye of the New York Communty Corrections Office.

Officers will keep a watchful eye on the actor as he finishes out his sentence under home confinement, which the FBP lists as July 19.

His release is -- ironically -- just two weeks before tax day.

The Passenger 57 actor was found guilty of not paying as much as $15million in dividends to the government for his earnings from 1999 to 2001.

His lawyers argued that his tax advisers, Douglas P. Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn, who were also jailed, had duped their client with a claim that there were no laws requiring him to pay tax.




Charges: Prosecutors claimed Snipes defrauded the government of $15million over three years

He also expressed to CNN's Larry King that he was 'nervous' of his impending stay at the minimum security white-collar facility, which works its inmates from dawn until dusk doing chores such as landscaping and food service.

He was also given limited contact with his family -- he is the father of five children -- as inmates only have 300 minutes of call time per month and conjugal visits were not allowed.

'I think any man would be nervous,' Snipes said.




Roles: Snipes is best known for playing Blade in the trilogy of the same name

'Given the length of time that they are suggesting that I be away from my family, away from my profession, away from my ability to provide for my family and for those who have depended upon me to contribute to society... I think anyone would be nervous about that.'

While in prison Wesley had tried to appeal his sentence to the Supreme Court, but was turned down and ordered to finish out his term.

No word yet on how soon before Snipes jumps back into acting.

The Florida-born performer is best known for his roles in Jungle Fever, Blade and White Men Can't Jump.

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Chinua Achebe To Be Buried Next Month

Prof. Chinua Achebe may be buried next month in his hometown, Ikenga Ogidi in Idemilii North Local Government Area of Anambra State, family sources have said.

Anambra state governor Peter Obi was also said to have consented to the fixing of a date in May after meeting with Achebe’s children in the US last week.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joemartins Uzodike, however told Saturday PUNCH that the burial arrangements would only be published after the family had formally briefed the state government.

“Though I cannot officially confirm it to you yet, from what I hear, the burial will likely be in May,” Uzodike said.

The state government has promised to give Achebe a grand burial in line with its policy to honour every Anambra citizen that has brought honour to the state.

A close aide to Governor Peter Obi also confirmed the burial plans as discussedin a meeting that involved some principal aides to Obi and members of the Achebe family.

“So far, from their discussion, the late Achebe would be buried next month (May) but there is no final conclusion on the exact date.

“Three dates – May 11, 18 and 25 – have been thrown up for consideration, but that of May 11 is likely to be adopted going by the body language of his family members.

“Aside that, it is believed that May 11 would be ideal because the government does not want the burial activities to extend into the Democracy Day programmes for May 29, considering that it would be Governor Obi’s last Democracy Day in office.

“However, one thing that is certain is that if he (Achebe) is not buried on May 11, he would be buried anytime immediately after Democracy Day celebration on May 29.”

The literary giant died on March 21, after a brief illness at a hospital in Boston, United States.

Halle Berry Has A Baby On The Way

Congratulations to Halle Berry and fiance Olivier Martinez! The couple is expecting their first child together, and even more fun — they've divulged the baby's sex. Looks like five-year-old Nahla, Berry's first child with ex-beau Gabriel Aubry, is going to play big sis to a baby brother.

According to TMZ, Berry is about three months pregnant and during the February's Oscars, the actress was complaining of sickness and some weight gain. All we know is that Berry was a knock-out that evening in her 007-inspired Versace dress, nausea or not. While the Bond girl probably won't be rocking any form-fitting gowns in the near future, we are still looking forward to a Berry...I mean very beautiful baby birth!

Photos: FEMEN protestors active across the globe in their support of Amina, a Tunisian woman who was threatened with death for baring her breasts online.

Topless jihad day was in full swing on Thursday, with protestors active across the globe in their support of a Tunisian woman who was threatened with death for baring her breasts online.
Declared “a new Arab Spring” by Femen activists, it called for women to join topless rallies at worldwide Tunisian embassies.
In a statement published on Facebook, Femen touted the event as a cry against the “lethal hatred of Islamists – inhuman beasts for whom killing a woman is more natural than recognising her right to do as she pleases with her own body.”

Scroll down for pictures from Thursday's topless jihad day

Protesters in Kiev on Femen's proclaimed 'topless jihad day'
It added: “Long live the topless jihad against infidels! Our tits are deadlier than your stones!”
It came after 19-year-old Amina Tyler posted images of herself with the words “Fuck your morals” written across her chest to the Femen-Tunisia Facebook page, earning calls for her death from a preacher who feared her act “could bring about an epidemic”.
On Thursday, images of protests underway in Berlin, Milan, Kiev, Paris, Brussels and Melbourne were swiftly posted online as the movement gained pace.

Femen members in Italy
Meanwhile the whereabouts of Amina are unclear. Some say she is in a psychiatric hospital. Some have expressed fears for her life. Attorney Bochra Bel Haj Hmida insists she has spoken to Amina and that she is home with her family and well.
Yet last month Femen leader Inna Shevchenko told the Huffington Post UK that since abruptly losing contact with the young activist, she continues to fear for Amina’s safety.
She said: “We still didn't hear [the] voice of Amina and didn't see her face. Until the moment we hear word of Amina about her safety we are searching for her and continuing our international bare breasts support.”

An image posted on the Femen Facebook page, captioned: 'We pray for a topless jihad'
In what is believed to be her final interview before her disappearance, Amina told Federica Tourn she believes she will be beaten or raped if the Tunisian police find her.
But she insists she is not afraid: “No, nothing they could do would be worse than what already happens here to women, the way women are forced to live every day.
"Ever since we are small they tell us to be calm, to behave well, to dress a certain way, everything to find a husband. We must also study to be able to marry, because young guys today want a woman who works.”

One of the pictures of Amina posted on the Femen Tunisia site
Other groups and individuals have also declared April 4 an international day of action.
More than 107,000 activists have signed a petition calling for those who have threatened Amina’s life to be prosecuted.
An open letter calling for an International Day to Defend Amina has been signed by many feminist and atheist activists, including Richard Dawkins.
The letter says: "On the day and beyond, groups and individuals can join in by highlighting her case, posting topless photos of themselves and their activism on social media sites, signing a petition, Tweeting #Amina, writing letters in her defence, and more.
Femen said in a statement they were furious about the "barbarian threats of the Islamists about the necessity of reprisals against the Tunisian activist Amina,
"We are afraid for her life and we call on women to fight for their freedom against religious atrocities.
"Use your body as a poster for the slogans of freedom. Bare breasts against Islamism."
Femen was founded in 2008 in Ukraine. It claims to be active in 17 countries and to have more than 150,000 supporters.

#huffingtonpost

First Lady, Patience Returns To Abuja From Another Medical Trip

Nigeria's first lady, Patience Faka Jonathan, returned to Abuja late afternoon after a medical trip that took her to Germany.

Mrs. Jonathan was welcomed by wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina  Sambo, leading a delegation of party faithful numbering 100 bused to the airport in coaster buses.

A source at the airport said the first lady look tired and lethargic apparently drained from recent hospitalization in Germany.

Meanwhile, the first lady is billed to attend a payer "Breakfast Meeting" scheduled for 8:00 AM. The breakfast prayer meeting will be anchored by Aso Rock Villa chaplain, John Kennedy Okpara.

The same chaplain presided over a multimillion naira thanksgiving service that had some 5,000 people in attendance. SaharaReporters gathered that the Presidential office donated N20 million to the event.

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