Chicago rapper Twista pleads guilty to not paying income taxes for 5 years

Chicago rapper Twista has pleaded guilty to willfully failing to pay federal income taxes for five years.

The Grammy-nominated rapper, whose real name is Carl Mitchell, 52, did not pay income taxes amounting to roughly $175,000 between 2019 and 2023, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court last week.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22. He faces up to one year in prison on each of the five counts to which he pleaded guilty.

Mitchell, who lives in south suburban Crete, has unpaid tax liabilities dating back to 2011. In all, he owes more than $440,000 in taxes, according to the IRS.

His lawyer could not be reached for comment.

From 2019 through 2023, Mitchell earned income from concerts, album sales, streaming and other royalties, the IRS said. He was informed several times by the IRS and his accountants of the taxes he owed.

But during those years, Mitchell also spent $100,000 for a Corvette, about $80,000 on a BMW I8, $65,000 for a Tesla and another roughly $65,000 on a Jeep, federal prosecutors said.

Mitchell “routinely made other large, nonessential purchases when he could have used available funds to pay his outstanding tax debts,” prosecutors said.

Mitchell also made an arrangement with a third-party company to pay him advancements for future royalties to avoid being taxed on them, according to the IRS.

According to the plea agreement, Mitchell will pay about $440,000 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury Department, as well as any interest and penalties.

Twista received two Grammy nominations in 2005 — one for best melodic rap performance on his song, “Slow Jamz” with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx, and the other for rap solo performance on his song, “Overnight Celebrity.”