RON ISLEY IS CURRENTLY BEHIND BARS ON TAX EVASION CHARGES

Last I heard, Ron Isley's attorney and record label, Def Jam, teamed up to create an executive presidential pardon petition in order to drum up support from Isley's family, friends and fans by encouraging them to write, email, call and fax President George Bush in order to keep Isley out of prison. For those of you who don't know the full story regarding Isley's conviction, here it is: Last September, the singer was sentenced to 3 years in prison on five counts of federal income tax evasion. The IRS claims Isley, who has assets in the millions had gone to great lengths to hide them in different bank accounts and by signing them over to relatives. Isley who is 65 years old, had pleaded "not guilty" on all counts. According to court records, Isley had unpaid taxes of $3.1 million between the years 1997 and 2002. Isley's attorney argued that his client deserved probation due to his frail health, citing a stroke he suffered two years ago and a recent battle with kidney cancer.

That was about a month ago. Since then many people were wondering if Isley would ever see the inside of a prison. Beside his failing health, Isley and his wife of 2 years, Kandy (of the R&B singing duo JS), who is 35 years his junior--let me find out he's old enough to be her granddaddy--have an 8-month old child together.

Fast forward. Isley is of now federal property. According to eurweb.com, Def Jam only confirmed to them that Isley is now behind bars serving his sentence. The record label's spokesperson did not reveal where Isley is housed or the beginning date of his incarceration.

Isley's last public appearance was at this year's Soul Train Music Awards where he performed Just Came Here to Chill from his newest album, Baby Makin' Music which is in stores now.