Method Man Arrested, Turns Himself In For Tax Evasion Charges

Wu-Tang Clan's Clifford "Method Man" Smith has reportedly turned himself in to New York authorities and has been arrested on charges related to tax evasion.
Grammy Award-winning hip-hop star Method Man turned himself in to authorities this morning after failing to pay nearly $33,000 in back personal taxes, officials said. The Wu Tang member -- whose real name is Clifford Smith -- walked into the Staten Island DA's office at about 8 a.m. to face felony charges in connection with neglecting to pay $32,799 dating back to 2004. (New York Post)

Further speculation shows the rapper owing just under $33,000 to the government.

The Wu Tang rapper reportedly surrendered to cops on Staten Island this morning on charges of failing to pay four years worth of income taxes. According to WABC in New York, Meth owes $32,799 to Uncle Sam -- not including fees and penalties. (TMZ)

The arrest was made public Monday morning.

The arrest was announced by District Attorney Daniel Donovan and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward this morning. "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 Donovan in a press release. "Because of the alleged action of people like 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." (SI Live News)

After previously joking about not paying his taxes due to being "high," Mef later retracted his statement.

"The reporter said I didn't pay my taxes," Mef said in a video. "It was a play on the Afro[man] song. We was playing around...We were joking around at the end of the article and it wasn't fair that the Daily News put that headline up there, but when you make a movie like How High and sh*t, people always gonna paint you like that and that's the bottom line...Whose gonna really honestly believe that a motherf*cker forgot to pay his taxes because a motherf*cker was smoking too much weed...I may not do any more interviews ever based on how they take your words outta context, ya dig? It's all good though. Y'all be good." (World Star Hip Hop)