Rapper ‘Fat Joe’ starts serving 4 months in federal prison for failure to file taxes

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Rapper Fat Joe is pictured in New York on Oct. 6, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Peter Kramer

NEWARK, N.J. – Rap star “Fat Joe” has reported to federal prison in Florida to serve a 4-month sentence for tax evasion.

An attorney for the performer, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena (car-ta-GEE’-nah), said his client surrendered Monday at a federal detention centre in Miami.

Cartagena pleaded guilty in December 2012 to failing to pay taxes on more than $1 million of income in 2007 and in 2008.

The 42-year-old Miami Beach resident was charged in New Jersey because some of the companies he earns money from are incorporated in the state.

The platinum-selling artist once topped the Billboard charts with the hit “What’s Luv.”

Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman told The Associated Press that Cartagena was in positive spirits and looking forward to getting released and back to his family before Christmas.

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