Former NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski and his wife, Julie, filed for bankruptcy on Monday after allegedly owing the U.S. government millions of dollars in unpaid taxes, according to court records.
The bankruptcy filing comes at a pivotal moment for the Romanovskys. That was less than 24 hours before Tuesday’s scheduled hearing in a civil suit brought against the couple by Justice Department lawyers last summer. U.S. attorneys allege that the Romanowski family used the nutrition company they founded to avoid tax obligations and now owe more than $15.5 million in unpaid taxes.
Under federal law, filing for bankruptcy would give the Romanovskys a temporary reprieve and automatically halt any efforts by the Justice Department to collect any outstanding money.
The couple’s attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Romanowski, 58, spent parts of 16 seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and two other teams, developing a reputation as a highly polarizing linebacker. He won four Super Bowl rings and had more than 1,000 career tackles, but was frequently embroiled in controversy and later admitted to using steroids during his playing days.
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Justice Department lawyers argue that Mr. Romanowski and his wife failed to pay millions of dollars in income taxes in the years before and after he retired after the 2003 season. To avoid federal income reporting and tax repayments, the couple used funds from their nutritional supplement company, Nutrition 53, to cover personal expenses and the expenses of their two children, government lawyers said.
According to court records, Bill and Julie Romanowski, 53, opened a bank account on behalf of Nutrition, Inc., but they paid for everything from rent on their 6,000-square-foot home in California to groceries, veterinary bills and “more than 170 He reportedly used the money in that account to pay for his medical expenses. Visits to nail salons, hair salons, and day spas. ”
Nutrition53, which was also named as a defendant in the federal lawsuit, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last fall. Justice Department lawyers then filed a motion for default judgment against the Romanowskis, asking the judge to immediately rule in the government’s favor. A public hearing on the motion was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @Tom_Schad.
