“Blade” actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday for failing to file tax returns, the maximum penalty, the Associated Press reports.

The actor wrote to the government $5 million in check, highlighted his clean criminal record and called on famous friends in order to convince the judge that he should get nothing more than home detention and public service announcements, but none of it worked.

Actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington attested his good character and Snipes’ lawyers recommended he be given home detention and ordered to make public service announcements, as the actor did not have previous criminal record and his three convictions were all misdemeanors. However, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges said Snipes exhibited a “history of contempt over a period of time” for U.S. tax laws and mentioned “In my mind these are serious crimes, albeit misdemeanors.”

“I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance,” Snipes read from a written statement, cited by the AP. He said his wealth and celebrity attracted “wolves and jackals like flies are attracted to meat” and he called himself “well-intentioned, but miseducated.”

Wesley Snipes was the highest-profile criminal tax target in years, and prosecutors called for a heavy sentence to deter others from trying to obstruct the IRS. The actor’s defense attorneys said Snipes was unfairly targeted for prosecution due to his celebrity. He is currently not in custody and it is not yet clear when he will have to surrender to the authorities.

Snipes’ lawyers said they would appeal against the sentence. The jury also convicted two co-defendants, Eddie Ray Kahn and Mr. Rosile, on felony charges. Judge Hodges sentenced Kahn to 10 years and Rosile to four and a half years.