Rapper ‘Fat Joe’ faces NJ sentence for tax case

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Rap star “Fat Joe” faces sentencing after admitting he failed to file federal income taxes.

The platinum-selling artist, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena (car-ta-GEE’-nah), is being sentenced Monday in federal court in Newark.

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

Federal prosecutors are asking the judge to take into account the government’s initial allegation that Cartagena failed to taxes on more than $3 million in income for years 2007 through 2010, an estimated tax loss to the government of $718,038.

The Miami Beach resident was prosecuted in New Jersey because some of the companies he earns money from are incorporated in Somerville.

Cartagena once topped the Billboard charts with the hit “What’s Luv.”

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.