EURweb.com - Black Entertainment | Black News | Urban News | Hip Hop News | Black Entertainment

Newsletter Sign-up:

News on Michael Jackson, 50 Cent, Beyonce & More

EURweb

Back to the Article » Click Here

Click here to post your comments.

Name: sultry

Comment: I hate this for him but no matter how harsh it sounds if you do you crime you have to do the time. I am for him and his little wife on the expecting of a baby, but it is too bad that he will not be there to see the birth. I do believe that they married to help his case and then the pregnancy.(I am sorry that this did not work for him though) i was not aware of his medical condition. I hope he gets out sonner that the 3 years. The Isleys are the read deal when it come to good singing.

Name: ChocolateBrownGa1

Comment: It's sad Ron Isley has to spent his twilight years behind bars or in a prison hospital. How many good years does he have left after suffering a stroke and with a bout with kidney cancer. But I'm not sorry he is going to jail. He knew what he was doing was wrong.

Name: PlanetRock

Comment: Isn't it ironic that a rap artist can be in and out of jail and be considered a "star" in our communities, but our people will bash a R&B legend such as Ronald Isley with the quickness? Well, I won't. No, I don't condone the behavior of either, but I appreciate the incredible legacy of music that Mr. Ronald Isley and The Isley Brothers left for us. Everyone makes mistakes and hopefully he can put this behind him and continue to entertain us as he has done for the last six decades. Keep your head up Ron.

Name: SewRite

Comment: PlanetRock, you raise a good point that there is a double standard when it comes to rappers and legendary entertainers such as Ron Isley. You are right, wrong is wrong no matter WHO does it. However, Ron's situation is a reminder that a person's celebrity or lengendary status HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OBEYING THE LAW. Ron has to obey the law like everybody else. Legend or not, why should the rules be different for him? You mention something about our people being quick to bash Ron. I beg to differ from you on this. This is no rush to judgement. Ron has been dodging paying taxes for decades!! Several years ago, he was brought up on charges regarding this same issue. I believe a group of Black investors came to his rescue that time. Yes, everyone makes mistakes. But in light of the fact that Ron CONTINUED to evade taxes even after being given another chance to clean up his act, is this really a mistake or willful disregard? In my opinion, it's the latter. And also have you considered that because Ron is OLDER and a legend that many of our people expected more of him? Unlike the young rappers, Ron has been around the block many more times. A 65 year old man who still can't accept the fact he has to pay taxes. That shows you right there how childish and immature he is. I believe that's one of the reasons he married a woman young enough to be his grandaughter. Ron DID NOT VOLUNTARILY decide to make restitution to the government. He is only doing so because he got caught!! With Ron you get the impression, that had he not been caught, he would have kept right on tax evading.

Name: McNasty

Comment: I am sympathetic to Ron Isley's situation only because of his failing health. Greed got him this sentence and he should have his hands slapped if he was cashing his dead brothers royalty checks - wrong is dead wrong! That's not bashing either - it's a recognition of the facts! I do wish him well though and many more years of 'sweet soul music'.

Name: khufu

Comment: I have one question: do white folks actually go to jail for tax evasion or do thay just pay the fines?

Name: star

Comment: Greed did get him locked up. Yeah I love his music too, but brother you ain't above no law. He did this to himself and for that I do not feel sorry for him.

Name: gr8st8

Comment: khufu>> I think he had bad legal advice because he chose to go to trial, whereas I think when other folks are faced with tax evasion, they'll plead out and pay the fine.

Name: oldschoolbrother

Comment: khufu>> white folks pay the fine, cheese and grin and court and be done with it. it looks like he had the money or items to sell. for some reason he allowed this to go to court, I have a uncle who was in the same position, he ended up having to sell his home, a yacht, etc. But he did no jail time.

Name: Grace

Comment: Wow!

Name: DCGG

Comment: I don't feel sorry for his azz not one bit - Has this fool not heard of Sammy Davis, Red Fox and a host of others that ended up broke fuvking with the IRS...hellz if I gotz to pay my taxes (probably pay more than his azz do cause I'm broke and live in DC)then you best believe his azz needs to be paying his too!

Name: GHank

Comment: Al Capone had all kinds of people killed, but the thing that landed him in prison was tax evasion. It just goes to show you that the government does not play when it comes to taxes.

Name: HoneyMack

Comment: He was convicted in Oct of 2005, then the lawyer claims that he was selling off %*$ets to pay down the IRS debt, however he and his wife were married in a huge cermony in Sept of 2005. Which included >> the brides dress, a $15,000 custom-made gown created by noted designer Arming. The couture, ivory silk duchess satin gown had more than 1,500 hand-beaded Swarovski crystals, a sweetheart neckline and a dropped waist ball-gown skirt with bustles cascading down to a cathedral-length train. The rings were Harry Winston 14-carat white diamond ring in a platinum setting. She also was adorned with a $3 million diamond wreath necklace with matching earrings, also by Harry Winston. The couple also have matching wedding bands from Harry Winston. and they feasted on: delicacies crab cakes, shrimp, lamb chops and sushi as appetizers. The entree included steak, chicken and baked salmon along with spinach salad with walnuts and sliced pears. This man knew his trial was coming he11 it was a month later, he thought he would get out of it and get over, thats what he gets.. crime does pay.. And since he is sick they want a lighter sentence. He was sick when he was cashing those checks, evading taxes, having a big @zz wedding and making a baby w/a 28 year old, but now they want the someone to be lenient with him. It's not like he didn't know he was doing wrong!! There is no way you can unintentionally cash a dead persons check, it was his brother, he knew his @zz was wrong.

Name: NJBLKGUY

Comment: Wow HoneyMack,were you a bridesmaid in that wedding or what??

Name: HoneyMack

Comment: No, but b4 I pass judgement or give my opinion I like to have the facts straight. Come on, you know on the internet you can find whutevea you want, so I found out the details of the wedding. An uninformed mind is a misinformed mind.

Name: NJBLKGUY

Comment: HoneyMack-just teasing. The level of detail you gave had me cracking up.

Name: Southernbelle

Comment: He'll liquidate all of his %*$ests to pay off the IRS and whatever's left his wifey will take. He'll be left to rot in prison for the next three years and the pool guy will be raising his kid. Wow, what a way to end a legacy. When will some learn. The IRS is not to be played with.

Name: MzTee

Comment: As my father always says, "Do NOT Fcuk w/the I. the R. and the S." They will come after that azz. No amount of loot is worth my personal freedom. As much as I hate paying taxes, I pay those bad boys because I don't want the government garnishing my wages or seizing any of my %*$ets. I love Ron Isley's/Mr. Bigg's music, but as someone else pointed out, he is NOT exempt from paying HIS taxes and has to pay them just like us average Janes and Johns. He was fully aware of what he was doing and has been evading paying his taxes for years. You reap what you sew and the tax man finally got his azz. Hell, he's lucky he only got 3 years and we all know he'll be doing time in some country club type prison for white collar criminals, so hell NAW I ain't sorry to read he's going to jail.

Name: Platinum

Comment: * sigh* @ Ronald Isley... for shame!

Name: ladybyrd

Comment: khufu > Absolutely! That was the ONLY thing that put one of the BIGGEST/BADDEST crime boss behind bars AL CAPONE.

Name: ladybyrd

Comment: khufu > Also, google Richard Hatch (Survivor Reality Show) I think he was sentenced last week for 5 to 10 years in prison.

Name: bigfriend

Comment: I am sorry to hear that as jail is hard on everyone especially older people. He did commit a crime by not paying taxes though. I do it he can too. But, federal prison is not horrible. It is like being on a college campus that you cannot leave (I have been there) as long as he has money he should be alright. They sentence all kinds of people for tax evasion old chinese ladies, young white ladies, old black men everyone. Pay your taxes even if you do not like it people or you will be one in club fed. If you want to change our taxes go to fairtax.org and see what they are talking about. Quite interesting!

Name: mamadute

Comment: this really hurts me becuz i enjoy his muisc... but u reap what u sow.. i have a dislike for him somewhat tho on how he did my gurl angie.. im a HUGE fan of hers... but ntwayz he should have known that they was gonna catch up with him.. now he's tryna use his illness as an excuse... wasnt he ill when he got wifey pregnant... but i really feel sorry for the unborn baby.. he/she has to grow up the first three yrs without a daddy

Name: STELLABABY

Comment: yes there was one white person that went to prison for tax evasion.leona helmsely the hotel baroness,i believe she went to jail for 2 or 3yrs.i always remembered a statement she made that taxes were for the "little people".she would order girdles and bras from catalogs and bill it to her company as a business expense.when she was released fm prison she was so bitter and she lost some of hotels because convicted felons cannot own liquor licences.

Name: ricki

Comment: Khufu and Oldschoolbrother ~ I am a Special Agent in CI for the IRS. TRUST ME, more whites than blacks go to jail for tax evasion and tax fraud. They often commit these crimes on a much larger scale and bring others into their scheme. Tax evasion is a white collar crime and a lot of my cases involve business owners, investors, CEO's, etc. NO ONE is exempt; even if they plea out they may still get jail time. Unfortunately, more of the blacks I investigate are mixed up in the narcotics side of tax fraud, or are RTP (Return tax preparer) cases. "Mr. Big" actually could have gotten up to 12 years, so his age and failing health actually worked in his favor.

Name: CoCoCaramel

Comment: I'm sorry that Mr. Biggs will be going to the big house but we all know that you don't mess with the IRS..also, Is his new toddler (oops my bad, I meant wifey)still hanging in there with him, but it shouldn't take her too long to find her some playdates after all kids get lonely too...

Name: ss69054

Comment: I am a big fan of Ronald Isley and the Isley brothers and unfortunately his longevity career has to come to this. But he shouldn't be let off the hook due to his stardom and his hit records. He knew exactly what he was doing for years. He is only sorry for what he has done because he got busted. Then he had the nerve to use his Brother's accountability to beat the system. How trifling??!!??? This isn't no mistake. Just a repeat of foolishness. He can't blame anyone b/c what he did, he did to himself. Payback is a mutha!! I love Mr. Biggs music but it seem like he wasn't too smart in the area of taking care of his legal business. As for the IRS, they don't skip a beat with anyone regardless of color, age, etc. This isn't a color issue. The Race card can't be pulled out when foolishness evolves itself. Just as Ricki stated, more whites do go to jail for tax evasion and when u are at a higher tax bracket, they will come get u quicker than u know.

Name: Priceless

Comment: History has proven time and again, you fock wit the IRS you going down

Name: Redbonetati

Comment: Wow! I can't believe Mr.Bigg is going to prison! Isn't he like 100 years old? I agree with just about everyone else, he did this to himself! Wrong is definitely wrong!

Name: OSUN

Comment: "This is Mr. Big" "How ya doing Mr. Bigg" Mr. Bigg aint doing to well. I dont feel sorry for him b/c he knew he was doing wrong. I hope he only has to serve a small portion of the sentence and use that time to reflect and decide to bury all future Mr. Bigg collaborations and projects with R Kelly

Name: Redbonetati

Comment: Wait a second! Even Mr. Bigg beat R.Kelly to prison?? :)

Name: StormyMonday

Comment: Surely he knew his luck would run out one day. How can you set-up voluntary payments w/the IRS and still not pay, this mess was from a span of 1976 and 1996. Now, I KNOW he was making enough to send in a doggone payment, especially since he was cashing his deceased brothers royalty checks! Paying musicians/performers in cash and etc., he KNEW what he was doing! Even in this case, he was given mercy, because the maximun sentence was 26 years. Yes, he does make good music and whatnot, but he isn't above the law. Maybe it wasn't him that committed tax evasion, maybe it was his alter ego Mr. Biggs.

Name: StormyMonday

Name: adifferentpath

Comment: RICKI- what's RTP (return tax preparer)- 'splain...

Name: gingerg

Comment: LOL, Carmel: Why the woman have to be a toddler?

Name: bigchassie

Comment: I'M CURIOUS..SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO IF YOU ARE AN ENTERTAINER? SHOULD YOU GET LAWYERS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OR SHOULD YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM YOURSELF? I MEAN, IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF, WOULDN'T YOU HAVE A BETTER HANDLE OF KNOWNING WHERE YOUR FUNDS IS GOING AND WHO IS GETTING PAID? I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S BEST TO HAVE A GOOD FINANCIAL HEAD ON YOUR SHOULDRS REGUARDING HOW YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY AND WHO YOU ARE PAYING (IRS)OR SHOULD YOU JUST LET YOUR LAWYERS TAKE CARE OF YOUR AFFAIRS. BUT ISN'T THAT RISKY TOO? CAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU NEED LAYERS TO LOOK OUT AFTER YOUR LAWYERS SO YOU WON'T GET SCREWED UP IN THE PROCESS TOO. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ENTERTAINERS GO BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF MISHANDLING OF FUNDS (Toni Braxton, TLC, Peybo Bryson, Willie Nelson etc.)WHAT REALLY IS THE BEST WAY TO GO. and i know Ron Isley's situation is totally different, what he did really a bad thing and yeah, he needs to go to camp cupkake too and do his time. and it's a dayum shame too that he's done this. and i hope should do some serious deep thinking on his life while he is in there because not only he has messed up but he let us all down who are his fans. the isley brothers are legends of R&B music. and this is not the way to go down in history. we have lost so many of our great legends to death. but to have one of them mess up with the IRS and go to Jail. come on Ron! Broman, you can't take this to the lay a way! this ain't your thing, you can't do what you want to do! it does not work that way. you got to pay. sorry.

Name: McNasty

Comment: Bigchassie making big money dictates that you hire a qualified and trusted team of lawyers, take a course in taxes yourself and commence to watching all the folks you've hired like a hawk to make sure you don't end up on the wrong side of the irs.

Name: ss69054

Comment: BigChassie> In my opinion, I think an entertainer should first and foremost study the entertainment business and business law before they get out there and start a career. They need to be educated on contracts, etc. Unfortunately there are no legal contraints to being knowledgeable b/c many entertainers learn by trial and error. It is just the way this business is set up with crooked people. Secondly, an entertainer should always hire a reputable professional because there are always some legal technicalities with the business regarding taxes, contracts, etc. that a person without expertise don't know. They should always asks questions to certain restraints they don't understand. Also, don't ever have anyone sign your name on any type of document b/c u may give your life away at all cost.

Name: nycGYRL888

Comment: Redbonetati>>>I was thinking the same thing! Everyone on trial will beat R Kelly when it comes to going to jail!!

Name: EdnaMae

Comment: I don't know which is funnier, that he is going to the big house, or what is saddest of all, he is having another child at the age of 69 and while being in poor health. As my daughter said when she read this story, that's just nasty.

Name: ladybyrd

Comment: bigchassie > When the story first broke a year or two ago, it stated that Ron was also collecting & NOT paying taxes on his deceased brothers royalties. I'm not sure if his brother had a family and if they started the investigation. So it wasn't just his money, but he wasn't claiming his late brothers royalty check even though he was cashing and keeping the money. I still play the old Isley Brothers Jams - "Hello, it's me, It's me baby..."

Name: ladybyrd

Comment: StormyMonday > You are correct! I read the exact samething. Ron's situation has been going on for decades and it finally caught up with him.

Name: lionqueen0728

Comment: Honey Mack !! P R E A C H !!!!!!!! amen , amen , amen !!!!

Name: lionqueen0728

Comment: or maybe THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST

Name: ricki

Comment: Adifferentpath, return tax preparers are people who prepare tax returns, to put it simply. Of course, there are big RTPs like H&R Block, etc., but there are also a lot of independent tax preparers. Some of these people will alter tax returns without the taxpayer's knowledge in order to get them a bigger refund. Some preparers tell taxpayers they can deduct certain things that are non-deductible. I have seen plenty of methods that are used to create a fraudulent return, and most times the taxpayers are the last to know.

Name: yasmine1

Comment: I pray for him...the whole situation is just a tragedy...

Name: SewRite

Comment: yasmine1> Yes, it is a tragedy. A tragedy BROUGHT ON by Ron himself. Ron has been dodging paying taxes for decades so this is a CHOICE he made. We're just watching him go down in the flames of his consequences!! The man was in serious denial if he thought he could continue to get away with this. I don't feel sorry for Ron. He's a slickster who ALWAYS thinks he can get over on others. He even admitted to being a player. He said his marriage to Kandy stopped him from being a player. And he is a player. He sure isn't serious!!! Well, Ron your playing days ARE OVER.

Name: themusiclady

Comment: ~bigchassie~ It would seem wise of the celebrities aka Super Stars to have legal advice in regards to their monies at 'all times'. But many times, you have to make sure that the legal team you have overseeing your monies,are on the up an up too. I think some just get 'caught up in the hype' of spending money uncontrollably. Some could be striving to 'outdo' others, that may appear to have more than them. In Ronald's case, I'm wondering, who was his legal advisors? I'm sure they got paid, for telling him to take this to court. But Ronald lost in the long run. He lost actually the very first time, he decided not to obey the laws of the land, and also, he lost, by keeping someone alive, who in fact, died in 1986, by willingfully cashing his deceased brothers check. I'm sure, that his prayers, should have included, "Forgive me, forgive me, FORGIVE ME LORD." And after reading the person commit who works for the IRS, I believe you, Ronald's age and failing health actually worked in his favor!

Name: jboy

Comment: In the words of my dear, late Grandaddy: "Boy, you ain't SEEN *mean* till you start messin' with white folks' money. Better pay them folks their money!"

Name: Face7

Comment: What was he thinking? He had to know that he had not filed his taxes. I'm surprised he got away that long without filing them. I'll pray for him but it may not be enough. I've loved their music for years.

Name: MOTHERSHIP

Comment: Ronald Isley don't owe the government shyt. It was he who earned his money, so why should he give it to them?? Man, please. Y'all all have been conditioned and bambozzled. The government needs to be paying us!!

Name: RBLACKPEARL1

Comment: PlanetRock, you are sooo right! He did the crime,but hell, dmx and 50cents do wha they want and nothing really happens to them except they make more records and more money outside the jail house! Didn't know a bout the kidney cancer. God bless you always MR.RONALD ISLEY!!!

Name: RBLACKPEARL1

Comment: "I JUST CAME HERE TO CHILL" IS THE BEST SO FAR!!!!!!

Click here to post your comments.

Back to the Article » Click Here

...