Lauryn Hill Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion, Faces Three Years in Prison

Eight-time Grammy-winning singer, Lauryn Hill pleaded guilty today after being charged three weeks ago to not paying federal taxes on more than $1.5 million earned over three years.

Appearing in U.S. District Court in Newark, Hill admitted failing to file tax returns from 2005 to 2007. She faces a maximum one-year sentence on each of the three counts and In addition could be hit with a $75,000 fine. 

Hill was released on $150,000 bail. She will reappear in the Newark courthouse for sentencing in November.

Video: Kevin Costner's Touching Speech at Whitney Houston's Funeral

Kevin Costner delivered a rousing eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral yesterday, which was held at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, and televised live on CNN.

  

Costner who Co-starred with the late pop queen as her love interest in 'The Bodyguard', was frank about how some people might not expect him to be there speaking at Houston’s funeral. He joked about the fact that he was a white male  and she was a black female, but added that adding an interracial relationship to The Bodyguard made it a more risky venture.

On the set of Movie, The Body Guard

"You weren't just pretty, you were as beautiful as a woman could be. People didn't just like you, Whitney. They loved you. I was your pretend bodyguard once not so long ago, and now you're gone, too soon, leaving us with memories... Costner said.

Costner ended his 15-minute speech  fighting back tears: “So off you go Whitney. Off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. And when you sing before him, don’t you worry. You’ll be good enough.”

Photos: Whitney Houston Finally Laid to Rest

 

With the world watching, Whitney Houston's silver casket was carried out of the church where she first sang as a child and driven a mile to her final resting place on Saturday - exactly a week after the singer's body was found dead in a bathtub in her Beverly Hills hotel room.

Stars present at the highly-charged service in Newark, New Jersey, included; Alicia Keys, Tyler Perry, Kevin Costner, Ray J,Brandy, Roberta Flack, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Hudson among others.  

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