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Bill Romanowski, the former NFL star, finds himself in the spotlight again, but for all the wrong reasons. A Department of Justice lawsuit filed in a California federal court on Tuesday accuses Romanowski and his wife of using funds from their nutrition company to finance their personal expenses, thus evading taxes to the tune of over $15.3 million.
According to the lawsuit, the couple skirted millions of dollars in income taxes between 1998 and 2007, a period that includes part of Romanowski's NFL career which culminated in his retirement in 2003 with the Oakland Raiders. The lawsuit alleges that the couple extracted funds from accounts tied to Nutrition53, their nutritional supplement venture established in 2006. These funds were reportedly used for various personal expenses including plastic surgery, day spa visits, rent for their grown daughter, and groceries for their adult son.
The Department of Justice alleges in the suit that the Romanowskis used Nutrition53 as a shield to deflect IRS collections related to their individual income tax assessments.
Not Romanowski's first off-field controversy
This isn't Romanowski's first dance with controversy. The 57-year-old linebacker has a history marred with contentious incidents, the most severe being an episode in 2003 where he violently injured teammate Marcus Williams, leading to Williams' premature retirement from football. The incident resulted in a lawsuit, with Williams receiving $340,000 for lost earnings and medical costs.
Romanowski also found himself embroiled in the BALCO steroid scandal. Government records disclosed his use of two distinct performance-enhancing steroids from the lab. In 2005, he confessed to using steroids on a "60 Minutes" segment.
Despite his off-field antics, Romanowski's football prowess is undeniable. His decorated career includes four Super Bowl victories (two each with the 49ers and the Broncos), a pair of Pro Bowl nominations, and an impressive tally of 1,116 tackles