Everyday we hear about celebrities breaking the law and getting away with it. It appears that the justice system caters to the Hollywood elite, giving them sentences equivalent to a slap on the hand. And, its not just the judges going easy on them, so do the local police and the IRS. Access Hollywood recently did a report on the Top 10 Celebrities with tax troubles. They named 10 celebs, their crime, and their punishment. Here are a couple of stories that show the power of stardom and the disparity among fairness in the legal system for those that are not so famous: Marc Anthony: Failed to file tax returns from 2000-2004 for which he earned $15.5 million. No charges were filed against Anthony personally; however, two of his associates pleaded guilty to tax felonies. Anthony was ordered to pay $2.4 million in back taxes. Wesley Snipes: Failed to file a tax return from 1999-2004. Snipes also signed two contracts for an estimated $10 million and failed to report either. He was acquitted on federal tax fraud and found guilty of three misdemeanor counts.  Update: Wesley Snipes received 3 years in prison for his 3 misdemeanor counts. Looks like the justice system is finally cracking down on celebrities.Richard Hatch (winner of Survivor): Failed to report his $1 million Survivor winnings, $10,00o for appearing on the Survivor Reunion show, and $321,000 for other guest appearances–so, a bit over $1.3 million of unreported income. Hatch was charged with two counts of tax evasion and filing a fraudeulent return. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison.So, why is it that the man with the least amount of fame and the least amount owed to the IRS was the only one that saw the inside of a jail cell? Is it just a coincidence that Hatch received the harshest punishment or another example of star power and influence? Then we have cases like NBA star Carmelo Anthony. The All-Star power forward for the Denver Nuggets was arrested on April 14, 2008 for driving while intoxicated. The usual routine for a D.U.I. is your car gets impounded on the scene, you go to jail, get booked, and then you are released after you’ve sobered up–usually in jail for hours. Pretty standard protocol, right? Well, if you’re famous, then maybe not…You see, for Carmelo the standard protocol played out much more differently than it would for the rest of us…Instead of the usual tow truck being called to impound the car, an officer was kind enough to personally drive Anthony’s car to the impound yard himself….and when Carmelo’s fiance’ refused to pick him up from jail, another officer gave him a ride home. I believe most people charged with D.U.I.’s are stuck in a jail cell until they sober up and then kicked to the curb and forced to find their own way home. The police probably just felt bad for Anthony because he is so poor that he couldn’t even afford a taxi.The list of celebrities getting off easy can go on an on: Nicole Richie: Driving while under the influence of pain killers and marijuana. She was on the wrong side of the freeway when the police found her and still she only served 82 minutes in jail. What kind of joke is that? 82 minutes?Micha Barton: DUI, driving without a license, and drug possession. Drug charges dropped, driving without a license lowered to an infraction, and no jail time served. The star treatment dates back to over a decade ago. Remember O.J.’s famous car chase back in 1994 in which he held a gun to his friend’s head and forced him to drive all around L.A.? Well he wasn’t charged at all for that.All is forgiven in Hollywood. Why do all these superstars get away with the same crimes that many lower class Americans are currently in jail, serving time for? Why do they deserve their freedom while the less fortunate have to suffer? Money may not buy you happiness, but it sure looks like it can buy your freedom.