Actor Wesley Snipes was acquitted Friday of tax fraud and willful failure to file tax returns, by far the most serious of the charges against him. He was convicted on three lesser misdemeanor charges of failure to file tax returns. Snipes’ acquittal is a major, major defeat for federal prosecutors and for the Internal Revenue Service, notwithstanding the fact that Snipes’ co-defendants were convicted on all counts. Snipes had faced a possible sentencing risk of 16 years in federal prison. The indicated sentence for the three misdemeanors os probation, meaning that, unless the presiding judge finds compelling reasons to impose a more severe sentence, Snipes will avoid jail time altogether. The prosecutors and the IRS are likely stunned by this result. They should not be. There is a grwoing anti-government sentiment in this country. Many – if not most – people are becoming convinced that the federal government abuses whatever legitimate authority that it has, that its prosecutors over-charge and pursue prosecutions with the zeal of Inspector Javert witout regard for the human toll they are exacting, especially where non-violent offenses are involved. The antipathy felt for the IRS is greater, still, and this verdict is, I think, perhaps a reflection of the distrust and low regard with which many Americans view the federal government. One would hope that federal prosecutors would get the message and spend their time pursing real cases against real criminals. I’m not holding my breath.