Bill Romanowski, a former Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders linebacker, and his wife, Julie Legrand, allegedly didn’t pay the millions of income tax that they owed between 1998 and 2007, according to a lawsuit filed last Tuesday by the IRS in California federal court.
The Romanowskis used money from a nutrition company to pay their personal living expenses. This amounted to more than $15.3 million and they now owe that to the U.S. government in back taxes.
Romanowski retired after the 2003 season.
According to the lawsuit, the couple withdrew money directly from bank accounts registered for a nutrition company, Nutrition53, which was a nutritional supplement company they started in 2006.
The lawsuit alleges the couple “improperly used company money to pay for pet food, chiropractor appointments, plastic surgery appointments, day spa appointments, rent for their adult daughter, and groceries for their adult son, among a wide range of other expenses.”
“By using N53 to pay their personal living expenses and those of their adult children, the Romanowskis have improperly used N53 to thwart the IRS’s collection of the individual income tax assessments at issue in this case,” the Department of Justice states.
The 57-year-old ex-NFL player had a tumultuous 16-year career in the NFL, including winning four Super Bowl rings and making two Pro Bowls.
Romanowski started his pro career in San Francisco, as he won his first two rings with the Niners to then win his other two with the Broncos in Denver. He also had a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles and Raiders.
The third-round pick in 1988 from Boston College has been criticized by fans and other players for his dirty hits on the field. Many consider him one of the dirtiest players ever to play in the NFL, involved in several on-field incidents that have been considered unsportsmanlike by some.
Known for his off-field issues as well, including altercations with other players and racial bias allegations, the notorious linebacker admitted he used steroids in 2005, along with human growth hormone, when he still playing in the league.
