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)

Former NFL lineman William Joseph, who starred at the University of Miami, will likely head to prison Friday after he is sentenced for his identity-theft and tax-fraud conviction in federal court.

Joseph, who played defensive tackle in the National Football League for much of the past decade, faces up to three years behind bars. He is being sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.

Joseph and other defendants — including a former Oakland Raider teammate, running back Michael Bennett — were convicted of either cashing dozens of fraudulently obtained tax-refund checks in other peoples’ names or seeking a loan with fake collateral. Their take totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to court records.

Joseph, 32, of Miramar, cut a plea deal in late August that could lower his potential sentence.

He pleaded guilty to theft of government money and aggravated identity theft, the latter of which carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence.

He admitted cashing a $10,088 Treasury Department refund check in the name of a person with the initials “I.P.” at a check-cashing store in North Miami in April, according to his plea agreement.

Unbeknownst to him, the store was a front for an FBI undercover operation.


(miamiherald.com)

Former Raiders RB Michael Bennett has received a 15-month federal sentence for taking part in a Florida fraud scheme.

Bennett was arrested in May as part of an identity theft ring that conspired to file false tax returns. The group allegedly cashed about $500,000 in fraudulent tax refund checks. Former Raiders and New York Giants DT William Joseph and former Syracuse player Louis Gacheline also have pleaded guilty to related charges and are awaiting sentencing.


(rotoworld.com)