(orlandosentinel) Actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison late this afternoon. The decision in federal court here came after a daylong hearing. A federal judge earlier heard objections from a lawyer for Snipes, as the defense struggled to keep the Orlando-born actor out of prison for willfully failing to file a tax return. When the sentence was read, Snipes had no expression at all on his face -- neither did his wife, who was sitting in the front row behind him. When a reporter asked whether he wanted to say anything, Snipes just spread his arms as if to say, "Like what?" He was with Dan Meachum, his legal counsel, who replied: "Not now." After the sentence was announced by the judge, Carmen Hernandez, a recent addition to the Snipes defense team, "Mr. Snipes was sentenced because he's Mr. Snipes." The judge in the case said Snipes' celebrity had no bearing on the sentence. Snipes was not taken into custody today. He most likely will serve his time at a federal prison near his home in New Jersey. Snipes made a million payment to the treasury on Thursday, but prosecutors called it a grandstanding move. "it''ll be a fraction of what he owes," said Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Scotland Morris, who made the argument for the government. Morris said a rough estimate of Snipes' outstanding tax liability, with penalties and interest, will exceed million. "The law is very clear: people must pay their taxes," Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Douglas Shulman said in a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's office just moments after the sentence was handed down."There is no secret formula that eliminates a person's tax obligations, nor are there any special exceptions. The majority of Americans pay their taxes timely and accurately. Those who willfully violate the law must be held accountable." Snipes was acquitted in February of five additional charges, including felony tax fraud and conspiracy. Snipes’ co-defendants, Douglas P. Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn, were convicted on both those counts. Kahn, who refused to defend himself in court, was sentenced to 10 years, while Rosile received 54 months. Both will serve three years of supervised release. Snipes will serve one year of supervised release. Snipes and Rosile remain free and will be notified when they are to surrender to authorities.

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