William Joseph gets prison in Fla. tax theft

MIAMI (AP) - Former NFL lineman William Joseph has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for his role in a South Florida tax theft ring.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams also ordered Joseph on Friday to pay a $10,800 fine and complete 300 hours of community service after his release from prison. Joseph pleaded guilty in August to aggravated identity theft and theft of government money charges.

Joseph is the third former football player sentenced in the scheme, which involved an FBI undercover check-cashing store in which the men cashed some $500,000 in fraudulent tax refund checks.

Joseph played for the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders. Previously sentenced were former Minnesota Vikings first-round Michael Bennett to 15 months and ex-Syracuse University player Louis Gacheline, who got 28 months.


(kswt.com)