A federal judge postponed Lauryn Hill's tax evasion sentencing on Monday but not before scolding the eight-time Grammy-winning singer for reneging on a promise to make restitution, the Associated Press reported. Hill pleaded guilty last year to not paying federal on $1.8 million earned from 2005 to 2007.
It was revealed that Hill paid $50,000 of a total of $554,000. U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo criticized her for relying on the promise of a recording contract in order to pay the tax bill. She chastized her for not paying up even though it is clearly she is wealthy enough.
'This is not someone who stands before the court penniless," Arleo said to Hill's lawyer, Nathan Hochman. "This is a criminal matter. Actions speak louder than words, and has been effort to pay these taxes."
Arleo rescheduled the sentencing for May 6.
Hochman contended Hill owes is slightly less than $1 million, including civil penalties and interest while the U.S. attorney's office estimated it is more than $1 million.
Hochman said Hill was about to sign a loan against two properties that would allow her to pay the remainder restitution before her next court date.
"I fully expect that by May 3 Ms. Hill will be able to pay back all the restitution she has," Hochman said.
At the time of her June arrest, Hill wrote in a long post on the Internet lambasting pop culture, claiming it has created a "climate of hostility, false entitlement, manipulation, racial prejudice, sexism and ageism." She also wrote that she hadn't paid taxes since she withdrew from society to guarantee her family's safety. She, nonetheless, had always intended to rectify the situation.
"When I was working consistently without being affected by the interferences mentioned above, I filed and paid my taxes," she wrote. "This only stopped when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of myself and my family."
