Ruben in the red

The second season's champion is following in the footsteps of Wesley Snipes, as he has failed to pay $193,650 in taxes to the state and federal government. Ruben Studdard, who was dropped by J Records last December, has not yet commented on the matter.

The majority of the taxes, according to court documents, are from 2003 when he did not pay $19,581 in state income taxes and $163,836 in federal taxes and was also issued property liens for $2,149 in state and $8,083 in federal for the 2005 fiscal year.

Ruben's tax woes comes on the heels of his marriage to Surata Zuri McCants in June. He is also involved in a legal dispute between his former record company, Sony BMG, and apparel line Louis Vuitton over the former's illegal use of the latter's trademarks in Ruben's music videos and on his third record, The Return, which Sony BMG has agreed to stop producing.