Four-time Super Bowl winner and his wife file for BANKRUPTCY amid $15.5m tax-scam allegations
- Bill and Julie Romanowski filed a complaint 24 hours before they were scheduled to appear in court
- The Justice Department claims they owe more than $15.5 million in back taxes
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Four-time Super Bowl champion Bill Romanowski and his wife Julie filed for bankruptcy on Monday, less than 24 hours before they were scheduled to attend a hearing in the civil case the Justice Department filed against them last year.
According to legal documents obtained by USA today, The couple was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face charges that they owe more than $15.5 million in back taxes.
However, under federal law, their bankruptcy filing will automatically trigger a pause in the Justice Department’s efforts to collect the alleged money they are owed.
US lawyers claim the pair used their food business as a personal piggy bank to finance their lavish lifestyle and avoid tax obligations dating back to 1998.
In an effort to avoid having their federal income reported, Bill and Julie allegedly created Nutrition53 to pay for rent, groceries, vet bills and “more than 170 visits to nail salons, hair salons and spas,” according to court documents.
Former NFL star Bill Romanowski has filed for bankruptcy amid allegations he owes federal taxes
He and his wife Julie reportedly owe more than $15.5 million in taxes dating back to 1998
This isn’t the former NFL player’s first controversy.
In 2003, he ended the career of his Raiders teammate Marcus Williams when he punched him in the face, crushing his eye socket. Williams sued Bill and received a $415,000 settlement.
He also kicked Arizona Cardinals fullback Larry Centers in the head in 1995, resulting in an ejection and a fine.
They were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday before their bankruptcy filing halted proceedings
The couple allegedly founded Nutrition53 to keep their federal income from being reported
Bill won four Super Bowls during his fifteen-year career, which was marred by controversy
Two years later, he spat in the face of 49ers receiver JJ Stokes and broke the jaw of Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins on a helmet-to-helmet hit in a preseason game.
After retiring in 2003, Bill admitted to using steroids and HGH in the latter years of his career.
He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, winning two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and a few more with the Denver Broncos before retiring as a member of the Oakland Raiders.