STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — Clifford Smith, better known as rapper “Method Man,” was arrested on tax evasion charges on Monday morning, officials said.

Smith surrendered himself to the NYPD Detective Squad of the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office this morning, District Attorney Danield Donovan, Jr. and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward announced.

The 38-year-old rapper, who is a member of the platinum-selling rap group Wu-Tang Clan, is alleged to have failed to pay $32,799.00 in personal income tax for the years 2004 through 2007, not including additional accrued interest and penalties.

“Taxes are the burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you are an “average Joe” on the street or a high-profile rap artist,” said District Attorney Donovan. “Because of the alleged action of people lik Mr. Smith, law abiding citizens face higher taxes and reduced government services. Failure to properly report and pay your taxes is a crime against all citizens and will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”

Smith has been charged with a top count of Repeated Failure to File Personal Income and Earnings Tax, which is a Class E felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison. The rapper was also charged with a Class A misdemeanor charge of Failure to Pay Tax. Smith is schedule to be arraigned in Staten Island Criminal Court later on Monday.

“Our taxes help support education, health care, transportation services and other important government programs,” said New York State of Taxation and FInance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward. “Those who willfully avoid paying their income taxes hurt honest citizens who play by the rules and must now make up the difference. State taxpayers can rest assured that the Tax Department is committed to seeing that the tax laws are equitably and impartially enforced and that all taxpayers, especially those who can most afford to do so, pay their fair share. I thank District Attorny Donovan and his staff for their help in bringing this individual to justice,” he added.

The case against Smith is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Curiale of the Investigations Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Mario F. Mattei, Chief of the Investigations Bureau. Smith is being represented by Peter Frankel, Esq.

Tags: abiding citizens, class a misdemeanor, clifford smith, county district attorney, department of taxation, department of taxation and finance, education health care, honest citizens, misdemeanor charge, new york state department of taxation, new york state department of taxation and finance, new york state of taxation, nypd detective, personal income tax, rap artist, rap group, richmond county district attorney, state taxpayers, tax evasion charges, wu tang clan