Feds say rapper Beanie Sigel didn't pay taxes on $1.5M

Beanie Sigel is in trouble with the law - again.

Sigel, the rapper whose real name is Dwight Grant, was charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with failing to file federal tax returns in 2003, 2004 and 2005 on more than $1.5 million in income.

If convicted of all charges, Sigel, 36, of Lansdale, could face three years behind bars under advisory sentencing guidelines.

Sigel's attorney, Fortunato Perri Jr., said Sigel is likely to plead guilty, although discussions are ongoing with prosecutors as to how much of the income Sigel had during the period.

Perri said that Sigel was incarcerated in federal prison in 2004 and 2005 and that "other people had their hands on his money."

The rapper has led a colorful life in and out of jail.

In October 2004 Sigel was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and two years' supervised release on federal weapons offenses. He was acquitted in September 2005 of attempted-murder charges in connection with a 2003 shooting.

In 2008 Sigel spent three months in federal prison following a third violation of his supervised release for testing positive for drugs.

Sigel told the judge he was an addict and had a relapse.

At that time, U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick ordered Sigel to undergo drug treatment as a condition of one more year of supervised release.

Sigel, who was dropped by Jay-Z's Def Jam label in fall 2008, founded the State Property rap group in 2002 and later a clothing line by the same name. He has reportedly sold more than two million albums. He also appeared in the documentary "Backstage" and in two movies, "State Property" and State Property 2."