Posted April 16, 2008 -- U.S. prosecutors have recommended that Wesley Snipes serve a maximum three-year prison sentence and pay a $5 million fine for failing to file his income taxes, according to a tax-season court filing, sources say.

U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill of Florida says his goal is to deter other potential tax dodgers by making an example of Snipes, who after years of "brazen defiance" of U.S. tax laws cheated the government of $41 million.  

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This case cries out for the statutory maximum term of imprisonment, as well as a substantial fine, because of the seriousness of defendant Snipes' crimes and because of the singular opportunity this case presents to deter tax crime nationwide," O'Neill wrote.      

Snipes was convicted in February on three misdemeanor counts of willfully failing to file federal tax returns for 1999-2001. Each count comes with a maximum sentence of one year.    

The actor was acquitted on two felony charges of filing false claims and fraud in seeking millions of dollars of refunds in other tax years.

Cosby Goes Hip Hop

Comedian Bill Cosby, 70,  is getting into the music business. Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency will blend anecdotes and stories from the comedian with a hip-hop, pop and jazz soundtrack. It's tentatively due out in May.