Former Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood is facing prison time for what the authorities describe as COVID-19 tax fraud.
According to CBS News, Smallwood was charged with three felonies — wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service — and faces up to 50 years in prison.
According to court documents filed in the District of Delaware, federal prosecutors allege Smallwood defrauded government agencies by submitting false information to get tens of thousands of dollars in payments to businesses he ran.
Federal prosecutors also accuse Smallwood of being involved in a kickback conspiracy to defraud COVID-19 relief programs and lying to tax authorities.
According to court documents, Smallwood applied for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) using “defunct or recently registered businesses and claimed false business operations” in applications to the Small Business Administration.
The charges carry a maximum of 50 years in prison.
Smallwood has not yet been arraigned nor entered a plea in the case. A hearing for that is scheduled for December.
Smallwood’s attorney had this to say on the matter.
“Wendell has cooperated fully with this investigation. We will have more to say when we appear in December,” said Mark B. Sheppard.
A Deleware native, Smallwood played high school football at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear before attending West Virginia University.
Philadelphia drafted Smallwood in 2016 and played 6 seasons for the Eagles, Washington Football Team, and Steelers.2017 season,
During the Eagles 2017 Super Bowl run, Smallwood finished with 174 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 13 receptions, and 103 receiving yards.
He finished his career with 238 carries for 956 yards, 60 catches for 474 yards, and eight touchdowns.
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