Whoopi Goldberg has defended jailed actor Wesley Snipes and insists he has been used to "set an example" to the American people.

Last week the Blade actor was handed a three-year jail term by Florida Judge William Terrell Hodges after, he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years.

But Goldberg is convinced Hollywood stars who break the law are being used as scapegoats by the U.S government in a bid to deter other people from criminal activity.

She says, "This is not unusual. With tax evasion, (the IRS) gets very, very agitated and if you're famous they are putting you behind some kind of bar."