Ja Rule Sentenced to More Than 2 Years in Federal Prison

Ja Rule Jeffrey Atkins

2:40 pm, July 18th, 2011

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(GettyImages.com)

Ja Rule was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison today for failing to pay his taxes.

The rapper-actor, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, admitted earlier this year that he avoided taxes on more than $3 million earned between 2004 and 2006.

“I in no way attempted to deceive the government or do anything illegal,” Rule said immediately before being sentenced.

“I was a young man who made a lot of money – I’m getting a little choked up – I didn’t know how to deal with these finances, and I didn’t have people to guide me, so I made mistakes.”

Last month, Rule was sentenced to state prison in New York on separate criminal weapon possession charges.

It’s been determined that most of his new 28-month sentence can be served concurrently with the state incarceration.

In addition to time behind bars, he’s been ordered to pay $1.1 million in taxes.

His wife of 10 years, Aisha Atkins, was in the courtroom for today’s events.

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