That's right. Wesley Snipes is officially a fugitive of justice.

According to the U.S. Attorneys office, a warrant was issued for him last week after the government filed charges that the actor defrauded the IRS of millions of dollars. The star is accused of failing to pay nearly $12 million in taxes.

Officials allege that Snipes fraudulently claimed refunds in 1996 and 1997, and then failed to file returns between 1999 and 2006.

According to the eight-count indictment obtained by TMZ, the venerable gossip hounds who broke the Mel Gibson scandal, Snipes and two other defendants, Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile, are accused of attempting "through deceit, craft, trickery, and dishonest means to make it appear as if Snipes had no liability for federal income taxes, when in fact defendant Snipes had such liability."

Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years. As for the whereabouts of the three men, rumer has it that Snipes may be on the lamb.

THG NOTE: He's riding a sheep? Nice one, TMZ.

One thing's for sure -- he's gonna be hard to capture, spending evenings underground, killing vampires and such. And riding the money train, and a passenger jet.

Always bet on black, b!tches. Always bet on black!