OCALA, Fla. -- An all-white jury, made up of 11 women and five men, was seated Tuesday in actor Wesley Snipes' tax evasion trial. Snipes' lead attorney revealed his strategy in the case only to Eyewitness News. The attorney also tried to clear up what he calls misconceptions in the case.

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WATCH FULL INTERVIEW: Snipes' Lead Attorney Discusses Strategy
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RAW VIDEO: Snipes Arrives At Ocala Courthouse For Trial

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During the lunch break, WFTV reporter Steve Barrett got an exclusive chance to talk one-on-one and very frankly with Snipes' lead attorney. Bob Bernhoft said one of his first missions is to clear up what he sees as some public misconceptions.

"Wesley Snipes is a product of America," Bernhoft said.

The man hired to vindicate Snipes, in what could be a month-long trial, said problems with his case began long before this week, dating back to last year when Snipes' team believes he was painted as a fugitive while he continued shooting a movie in Africa.

"There was this perception that he was sort of "on the lam." He'd become the real fugitive," Bernhoft said. "We were [in contact the entire time] and this is a terrible injustice. Wesley's legal team was talking to the government in this case during the entire time he was filming Gallowwalker in Namibia."

But, giving some insight into the defense strategy, Bernhoft said communication between Snipes and the IRS during the tax years in question is the real issue and he said it's not fraud or conspiracy.

"Wesley Snipes directly engaged the IRS, asked basic questions, questions every American has a right to get answers to. And he stood ready to pay the tax and file the form, but he demanded a sit down with the IRS and work it out," Bernhoft said.

Bernhoft said Snipes paid millions in taxes during the year in question, but federal prosecutors claim he also owes millions, money that Snipes and co-defendants Eddie Kahn and Doug Rosile allegedly kept from the IRS intentionally.

"We have a real big concern that some evidence that could come in against a co-defendant, could tend to bleed over and taint their opinion of him. That's always a concern," Bernhoft said.

Tuesday, Snipes' attorneys also told Eyewitness News more about the list of celebrities who could come to Ocala for the trial. Attorneys named 82 potential character witnesses for Snipes, including Muhammad Ali, Spike Lee, Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Woody Harrelson and Sylvester Stallone. They said they'll wait to see what the government presents.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors aren't talking about the case.