Lauryn Hill faces seven years in prison for tax evasion charges. However, she’s been allowed to bide a few more weeks in order to cough up the money.
The sentencing was supposed to take place yesterday (April 22), but her lawyer Nathan Hochman convinced the judge to delay her fate until she has the chance to pay a chunk of her debt. Already having paid $50,000 of a $1 million debt, her attorney revealed Hill has signed a million-dollar deal with Sony and plans on taking out a $650,000 loan against two properties that would allow her to pay the remainder of the restitution by May 3.
Judge Madeline Cox Arleo allowed sentencing to be moved to May 6, but not before reprimanding Hill. "This is not someone who stands before the court penniless," Arleo said to Hill's attorney. "This is a criminal matter. Actions speak louder than words, and there has been no effort here to pay these taxes."
Hochman is seeking a probation sentence for his client Hill.
And as these financial woes persist for the talented, reclusive singer, Hill assures that all is well where home is concerned and that she is NOT being evicted. As rumors swirled last week about a pending eviction from her South Orange, New Jersey mansion, Hill set the record straight on her Tumblr:
"YET ANOTHER MEDIA INACCURACY…
I’d like to set the record straight: I am not squatting, and I do not owe any money to my landlord. I have always stayed current on rent. I was raised in South Orange, which is why these allegations are not only false, but insulting. I am in talks with the town about resolving an unrelated issue, regarding how I use my home to work on my music, which has nothing to do with my financial obligations.
Won’t it be great when real journalism returns to replace inaccurate tabloid harassment."
