YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Rapper Fat Joe pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark today to two counts of failing to pay taxes on $3.7 million of income.

Joseph Cartagena, 42, of Miami Beach, was freed on $250,000 bail pending sentencing on April 3, 2013. He could go to prison for up to two years and face a fine of $200,000, in addition to the costs to the government of prosecuting him.

Cartagena also must file accurate tax returns and pay the IRS all taxes and penalties owed.

Fat Joe admitted today that he made more than $1.3 million in 2007, more than $1.4 million in 2008 and more than $1 million in 2009 and 2010 combined for performances and in royalties.

The dough came from three different sources, he said: Terror Squad Production Inc. (“Terror Squad”) and Miramar Music Touring Inc. (“Miramar”), which he owned and operated in Somerville, N.J., and FJTS Corp.

The total tax loss to the government was $718,038, which will be taken into account at sentencing, U.S. Attorney Paul S. Fishman said.

Fishman credited special agents with IRS-Criminal Investigation, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea, secured by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mack of the U.S. Attorney’s Healthcare and Government Fraud Unit.

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Jerry DeMarco

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