Wesley Snipes enters prison

Wesley Snipes has entered prison.

The `Blade` actor - who has been sentenced to three years in jail for tax-related crimes - has now "surrendered" to the Federal Correctional Institution McKean in Pennsylvania, prison officials have confirmed.

Traci Billingsley, chief public information officer for the Bureau of Prisons, said: "Wesley Snipes has self surrendered to the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp at the Federal Correctional Institution McKean, in Bradford, Pennsylvania."

Fellow spokesperson Ed Ross added: "He surrendered a short time ago and is now inside the facility. He`ll go through an orientation process and will begin serving his sentence."

The three-year jail-term comes as a result of a conviction for failing to file tax returns form 1999 to 2001.

Earlier this week, the 48-year-old Hollywood star said he was hoping for a "miracle" to keep him out of prison.

He said: "We still have prayers about that - we still believe in miracles. So don`t sell me up the river just yet. Alright?

"I think any man would be nervous if his liberty is at stake. I`m disappointed that the system seems not to be working for me in this situation."

In November, Wesley`s request for a review of his sentence and a new trial was turned down by Florida Judge William Terrell Hodges.

He had appealed the original 2008 sentence on the grounds that some of the jurors were prejudiced against him, and objected to including financial adviser Kenneth Starr, who pleaded guilty to fraud after acting as a government witness against him.

sections: Celebrities