Former NFL Player Pleads Guilty to Covid Pandemic Aid Scam

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December 26, 2024

Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. He pleaded guilty to fraud.

an old one Philadelphia Eagles Run Back pleads guilty to federal fraud after submitting false tax returns and applications for financial aid from COVID-19 pandemic relief programs.

Accordingly Associated PressWendell Smallwood Jr. begged He was found guilty of the charges in Delaware on Friday, December 20. A federal judge approved the plea agreement. Prosecutors said the former NFL player filed false tax returns for himself and others in 2021 and 2022. He was able to get refunds of about $110,000, prosecutors said.

Smallwood was first indicted on three counts of fraud in October. He will learn his fate at his sentencing in May 2025.

His lawyer, Mark Sheppard, said the Philadelphia Researcher He said the former running back appeared in court on Dec. 20 and publicly took full responsibility for his actions. “He realizes that this is the first step in starting to make amends with the government and those closest to him. “He will continue to do so.”

Prosecutors accused him of using defunct or recently registered businesses and providing false information about their operations. He falsified the start dates, revenue amounts, expenses and number of employees of these businesses.

Smallwood used false information when he applied for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to receive financial assistance for three businesses listed in his name. The U.S. Small Business Administration approved those loans totaling more than $46,000, prosecutors said.

In another incident, he submitted fraudulent applications under the names of at least 13 people for another program, the Paycheck Protection Program. Smallwood received approximately $270,000 in loans and kickbacks for preparing and submitting the applications, prosecutors said.

Smallwood played for the Eagles after being drafted in 2016 after completing his college career at West Virginia University. During his NFL career, he also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins.