Twista has entered a guilty plea in his tax evasion case.
The Chicago-based rapper, real name Carl Mitchell, failed to pay income tax from 2019 to 2023 and owes more than $440,000 (£332,000) in back taxes, according to the IRS Criminal Investigations Division, Associated Press reports.
According to court documents sighted by TMZ, Twista signed a guilty plea in US District Court, admitting to five counts of willfully failing to pay income tax.
Despite warnings of his tax debts, he “instead entered into agreements with a third-party company to pay him advances on future royalties, knowing that the IRS would not be able to levy these funds”, the IRS noted in a statement.
Twista’s income stems from performances, album sales, streaming and royalties, according to the IRS. He has unpaid tax liabilities dating back to 2011, from which time onwards the Grammy-nominated rapper made large purchases to support his lifestyle, including buying at least four luxury vehicles.
Twista is best known for his 2024 album Kamikaze and has worked with artists including Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown, R Kelly and Pharrell Williams.
After pleading guilty, he faces up to five years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for 22 October.
