Lauryn Hill Facing Tax Evasion Charges

Lauryn Hill may be doing her next singing before a judge.

In Newark today, the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman charged the South Orange singer and actress with failing to pay federal income taxes for three straight years beginning in 2005.

In that time, investigators say, Hill pulled in about $1,600,000 from four companies she owns and operates: Creations Music, Inc.; Boogie Tours, Inc.; L.H. Productions 2001, Inc.; and Studio 22, Inc.  Prosecutors say her main source of income is performance royalties from music and films.

Hill rose to fame as a co-founder of the Fugees, but before that had landed a recurring role in the daytime drama As The World Turns. She also co-starred with Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act II: Back In The Habit.

Hill is scheduled for a June 29th court appearance. Each of the three counts carries a possible prison term of up to a year and fines up to $100,000 on conviction.