I never inspired to be a football player; I’m just not big. I do enjoy watching football games, as my friends are well aware.
Joe Bowden enjoyed a nine-year career as a linebacker with Houston, Tennessee, and Dallas (he’s now a coach at Central Oklahoma). Antowain Smith was a running back for Buffalo, New England, Tennessee, and New Orleans. And these two former NFL players figure into a tax fraud case.
Anthony Quinn Welch is accused of “borrowing” Bowden and Smith’s names, and filing tax returns on their behalf from 1997 – 2002. Mr. Welch allegedly opened bank accounts in their names, created phony addresses for them, and filed tax returns…and received over $2 million in refunds. And he deposited the refunds (using phony signatures) into his bank accounts.
Most likely the scheme fell apart when the IRS saw the real tax returns for Bowden and Smith. One individual, two tax returns? Not particularly likely. Mr. Welch faces four counts of filing fraudulent tax returns, and two counts of filing false claims. He’s looking at a lengthy term at ClubFed if found guilty.