Ronald Isley, the lead singer of the famous R&B singing duo the Isley Brothers, was found guilty on Tuesday of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return. The 64-year-old Isley faces up to 26 years in prison.
Prosecutors claim that Isley evaded taxes on millions of dollars worth of appearance fees between 1997 and 2002. The prosecution also said that Isley put homes and a yacht in the name of his then wife or in the names of corporations. He also cashed royalty checks belonging to his late brother according to the government's case.
The Isley Brothers wrote standards such as 'Twist and Shout' which was later made an even bigger hit by the Beatles. Isley's latest effort was a collaboration with Burt Bacharach called 'Here I Am.' It was released in 2004. An Isley Brothers CD, 'Body Kiss,' was nominated for a Grammy in 2004.
Sentencing in Isley's case is set for January 9 in Los Angeles.
