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Jeffrey Bruce “Ja Rule” Atkins
The 35-year-old Grammy-nominated singer — whose real name is Jeffrey Bruce Atkins — was sentenced last Wednesday to what should come out to no more than 20 months in a New York state prison for hiding a semi-automatic handgun in his car as he headed to his Saddle River home after a Beacon Theater concert.
“Out on my patio having my last free moment I love all my fans Pain is love!!!” he tweeted, after seeing “X-Men: First Class” with his family. He signed autographs on his way into court, where a judge ordered him held.
The federal stretch is likely to be much less than the year for each of three counts of tax evasion he pleaded guilty to in March, under an agreement with the government.
That is, provided he makes good on what he owes Uncle Sam (CHECK BACK LATER FOR THE RESULTS).
“As part of his guilty plea, Atkins has promised to pay the government his outstanding debt of over $1 million,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said. “Each of us must pay our fair share to keep this country moving.”
The hip-hopper’s response?
“When u get caught wit ya hand in the cookie jar just replace the cookies lol… #WINNING,” he posted on Twitter.
At the very least, the publicity surrounding his misdeeds should help Atkins move copies of his latest album, “Pain is Love 2,” due out later this summer.
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