Former NFL star and Chicago Bears defensive tackle Chris Zorich is expected to plead guilty to federal tax evasion charges.
According to a Chicago Tribune report, Zorich's attorney told prosecutors the 43-year-old Chicago native has agreed to plead guilty to four misdemeanor charges alleging he failed to file his federal taxes. Each charge has a maximum penalty of 1-year in jail and a fine of $100,000.
Prosecutors say Zorich did not pay federal taxes from 2006 through 2009. Zorich was making roughly $1 million during that time earning compensation from the Bears, personal appearance fees, Notre Dame University, and a law firm, reports say.
The federal tax charges stem from an investigation into a charitable foundation Zorich founded. Authorities uncovered that the foundation paid Zorich a monthly rental payment of $3,000 and that Zorich couldn't account for some of the money donated to the foundation. Last year, Zorich struck a deal with the Illinois attorney general's office and returned an estimated $350,000 donated to the charity.
Zorich denied claims he misused the foundation's money but according to the deal was barred from taking an executive position with any other charitable organization.
Court records don't indicate how much Zorich owes the federal government in taxes. His attorney told the Chicago Tribune that Zorich owes roughly $70,000 and has already paid half.
Zorich played with the Bears from 1991 to 1996 and played his final season in 1997 with the Washington Redskins. Following his NFL retirement, Zorick enrolled in Notre Dame and earned a law degree. He founded the Chris Zorich Foundation to help low income families in Chicago.
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