Wesley Snipes has been released from prison and placed under home confinement to serve out the remainder of his sentence for tax evasion.

The Blade star, who was convicted in 2008 for failing to file tax returns, lost an appeal for a retrial in 2010 and began serving his three-year punishment at the minimum security MCKean Federal Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania in December that year.

However, Tmz.com reports he was freed from his jail cell on Tuesday (02Apr13) and was transferred to the New York Community Corrections Office, where he met with representatives supervising his home confinement.

He must now remain under house arrest until 19 July (13), when his sentence will officially end.

Snipes, 50, has always maintained his innocence and insists he was duped by tax advisors.