Rapper Ja Rule pleads guilty to tax evasion

Ja Rule

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – Rapper Ja Rule pleaded guilty yesterday to failing to file tax returns and promised to pay more than $1 million in back taxes and penalties, the US Attorney’s Office in New Jersey said.

Ja Rule, whose original name is Jeffrey Atkins, 35, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to three counts of failing to file a tax return, from 2004 through 2008, even though he was making money from royalties and live tours.

The Grammy-nominated rapper and New