Six former football players of University of South Dakota, have been found guilty of tax fraud. Lead by Alphonso Valdez, the former players have said to have netted nearly $400,000 in just one year.
Via Associated Press:
“Valdez recruited students, his girlfriend and others he knew in his hometown of Tampa, Florida, to gather names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other identifying information, federal authorities said of the scheme, which went on between June 2011 and May 2012. They used the data to file fraudulent tax returns, using addresses that weren’t associated with the identity theft victims so that members of the scheme could retrieve the refunds.”
Court records show that the group orchestrated the scheme through text messages. “Through texts, Valdez ordered some of his accomplices, including then-defensive back Marquis Butler, to make deposits to Valdez’s bank account and check addresses for incoming tax refunds.”
Valdez was just sentenced to prison on Monday to serve 61 months; others have been sentenced previously and their time ranges from two to five years. Most young people who come in contact with a large sum of money usually become flashy, especially a football player but the athletic department at the University South Dakota state that had no clue what was going on.
Hopefully, this will not tie in to players needing financial help. Some are greedy and instead of asking for help the right way, they went about it illegally and possibly ruined not just their lives but others indirectly involved.
(H/T Yahoo! Sports)