Wesley Snipes and the Judge Who Stole Christmas

ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS/AP) Instead of celebrating the holidays with his family, actor Wesley Snipes will likely be sitting down to dinner with fellow inmates at a correctional facility in Pennsylvania.

A Florida judge denied Snipes' request yesterday to change his surrender date from Dec. 9, 2010 to Jan. 6, 2011.

According to Snipes' motion, the father of four wanted to spend time with his family during the holiday season, and had hoped the judge would understand.

Bah Humbug!

The Florida judge denied his request, saying Snipes had plenty of time to prepare "for the impact that his incarceration will have upon members of his family" since he was sentenced more than two years ago.

According to TMZ, the judge wrote, "The sooner he begins his sentence, the sooner it will end."

The "Blade" star was convicted in 2008 on three misdemeanor counts for willfully failing to file federal tax returns from 1999-2001. During the three-year period, Snipes cheated the government out of $7 million, reports The New York Daily News.

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
December 2, 2010 - Wesley Snipes Given Ultimatum: Go to Prison...or Go to Prison
November 24, 2010 - Wesley Snipes Update: Actor Seeks Extended Bail to Appeal Tax Sentence to Supreme Court
July 19, 2010 - Wesley Snipes Prison Sentence Upheld; Star Faces up to 3 Years