A jury in February found Snipes guilty on three misdemeanor charges of failing to file income tax returns between 1999 and 2004, but acquitted him on felony charges of conspiracy to defraud, and presenting a fraudulent claim to US tax authorities.

The Justice Department announcement on April 15 -- the date when millions of Americans each year are required by law to declare and pay their federal taxes to US tax authorities -- served as a sobering reminder of the dire consequences for failing to comply.

Snipes, 45, has starred in a string of hit movies -- from "Blade 3" to "Demolition Man" opposite Sylvester Stallone and Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever."

Federal officials said however that in addition to being wealthy and successful, he was a particularly egregious tax cheat.

"In the defendant Wesley Snipes, the court is presented with a wealthy, famous, and inveterate tax scofflaw," the statement said.

"Snipes has escaped paying more than 15 million dollars in income tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and has pursued an intended fraudulent harm to the United States Treasury of more than 41 million dollars," the statement said.

"The multifarious nature of his schemes and the deterrence value of a substantial prison sentence for this truly notorious offender call for a full 36 months in prison."

"If ever a tax offender was deserving of being held accountable to the maximum extent for his criminal wrongdoing, Snipes is that defendant," officials said, ahead of the star's April 24 hearing before a federal judge in Ocala, Florida.