'Blade' Star Could Score 'Club Fed'

April 25, 2008 — -- Film Star Wesley Snipes won't be donning prison stripes anytime soon, said several prison experts, who told ABCNEWS.com that Snipes' life in the slammer will likely be stripe-free and a lot cushier than most might expect.

The star of the movie "Blade" was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison following his February conviction on three misdemeanor tax fraud charges for failing to pay millions of dollars in federal taxes.

His lawyers said they would appeal the sentence, but if he does end up doing time, sentencing consultants said a federal prison camp, and not a maximum security prison, would likely become Snipes' new home away from home.

"With no prior record, [Snipes] will end up in a minimum security prison," said John Webster, the managing director of the National Prison and Sentencing Consultants Inc. "There will be no bars, no cells, and it will be dormitory type housing -- he'll never be locked in a cell."

"The only blood he'll see is if he cuts himself shaving," added Webster, who has advised many high-profile clients on their impending time in prison and has also served time himself.

Because Snipes' main residence is in New Jersey, it's likely he'll end up in a prison within a 500-mile radius, said Webster, who added that it's "going to be a very comfortable existence in terms of prison."

'Bland Meals' a Reality Check for Snipes

One probable place for Snipes' internment is the federal prison camp in Fairton, N.J., which is a low security complex for men and, according to Ed Bales, the managing director of Federal Prison Consultants LLC, is one of the few "Club Feds" still around.

"[Fairton] is one of the best camps and is known for having housed a lot of high-profile criminals," said Bales. "It's small, about 100 people in the camp, and has small ranch-style buildings."

"It's a laid back place," said Bales, "and one we consider to be run well."

So laid back, in fact, that Bales said the inmates can wear khaki slacks and shirts while they're on the job -- teaching, preparing food and landscaping are some of the options -- and during their off-time prisoners can purchase gray sweat suits and sneakers to wear. Bales sometimes advises his own clients to wear sweat pants when they report for their sentences in the hope that they'll get to keep their clothes to wear on the inside.

But the food may be less enjoyable than the wardrobe, said Bales.

"The food is not going to be what [Snipes] is used to," said Bales, who said pasta and potatoes are prison staples. "It's very bland and high in calories and starch to keep everyone relaxed."

If the prison's delicacies don't strike his fancy, Snipes will be able to buy brand-name food, such as soda and chips, from the commissary and cook a few items in a small kitchen or in one of the microwaves that are made available to inmates.

Snipes: Most Popular Kid on the Cell Block?

Likely to be bunking with other white-collar criminals also in the clink for charges similar to his own, Snipes will also run into younger guys who are in on first-time drug offenses, said prison expert Webster.

"He'll fit in just fine," said Webster, who said the chances of sexual assaults, and other violence, which are common in maximum security prisons, are pretty slim. "There's nothing to be afraid of, and his health is not in danger."

Snipes may actually be pleasantly surprised by his fellow inmates, many of whom will be excited to be living with a certified movie star.

"Other inmates will want to get to know him and shake his hand and claim to be friends with him," said Webster. "But the bureau will treat him like any other inmate. He's not the first celebrity to go to prison."

One thing that Snipes won't be able to do behind bars is conduct any sort of business, so his career on the silver screen will certainly be put on hold, said Webster.

"High-profile clients don't seem to get that when they're in prison they can't conduct business of any kind, and that's how most of them get in trouble," said Webster, who said that all inmates' phone calls are monitored.

He recommends Snipes not only get a full medical examination before entering prison but also that he turns over any business matters to his attorney or partners.

Still, wherever Snipes ends up, it won't be much like the facilities featured on television programs such as "Oz" or "Law and Order."

"Most people know a lot about prisons from what they see on television," said Webster. "They would never make a movie about a federal prison camp because there's not much drama in watching a bunch of fat, middle-aged guys sitting around playing cribbage."