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Alexander
also pleaded for leniency because Isley had been attempting
to pay down his IRS debt.
"He's
been liquidating assets, he's been doing the things
that he can," Alexander said.
But
U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson declined to sentence
Isley to less time than called for under federal guidelines.
"The
term serial tax avoider has been used. I think that's
appropriate," Pregerson said.
During
the trial, prosecutors said Isley, lead singer of The
Isley Brothers, avoided paying taxes numerous times
in the past three decades and declared bankruptcy after
the IRS seized his yacht, cars and other property in
1997.
He
was discharged from bankruptcy four years later, but
then did not file tax returns for the years 1997 to
2001 and in 2002 did not sign his return and failed
to pay all taxes due.
Alexander
argued during the trial that "unfortunate circumstances"
such as the deaths of two of Isley's accountants made
him unable to get records together and pay taxes during
the years that led to the criminal charges.
Isley's
recent albums include a 2003 collaboration with Burt
Bacharach titled "Here I Am" and The Isley
Brothers album "Baby Makin' Music." The group's
hits include "It's Your Thing" and "That
Lady."
He
was expected to be sent to a Bureau of Prisons hospital
facility.
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