WESLEY SNIPES ARRESTED FOR TAX FRAUD

Wesley Snipes pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges he illegally claimed millions of dollars in tax refunds and was allowed to quickly return to an African movie set. A Florida court released Snipes, who starred in the vampire-hunter movie series "Blade", on a $1 million bond and allowed him to return to Namibia where he is filming the horror western "Gallowwalker". He must return to the United States and surrender his passport by January 10 with a trial date in March, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement. Snipes arrived on Friday morning by private jet from Namibia in southern Africa to Orlando International Airport in Florida, where he was arrested and taken to Ocala for an initial court appearance. He then returned to the airport and held a news conference. His lawyers said he was due to fly back to Namibia via the Bahamas later in the day. "I look forward to vindicating myself and clearing my name," Snipes, who looked relaxed and wore a suit and tinted glasses, told reporters.