DMX Imprisoned For Violating Bail Conditions From A Tax Evasion Charge

AP Photo – DMX

DMX was imprisoned as a flight risk after the rapper violated bail conditions by testing positive on a drug test.

Traces of opiates, cocaine and Oxycodone were found in his system, which was in violation of the bail conditions he received from a tax evasion charge. U.S. District Judge Jed Takoff sentenced the rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, to await his March sentencing for the charge behind bars.    

He pled guilty to the charge last summer. He faces up to five years in prison.

Takoff said DMX traveled to St. Louis without a drug counselor after he had gone to “extraordinary lengths to meet his needs and desires” so the rapper could continue playing live shows.  

DMX owes $1.7 million in unpaid taxes since at least 2005. Authorities said that he insisted on getting paid in cash and directed royalty payments go to the accounts of others, including managers.

Things were looking up for the rapper, who completed a string of shows in 2017 and had dates booked through July. The last report submitted to Pollstar’s box office for DMX was a gig at Time Union Center in Albany, N.Y., which sold 1,874 tickets and grossed $111,900.

DMX played a few other shows last year, including concerts at New Orleans’ House Of Blues and The Observatory in Santa Ana, Calif., though no reports were submitted to Pollstar. He also played a couple of shows with Ruff Ryders, one of which took place at Barclays Center and nearly sold out, moving 13,244 tickets and grossing beyond $1.1 million.