Former NFL player pleads guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud

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December 26, 2024

Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. pleaded guilty to fraud.

Former Philadelphia Eagles running back pleads guilty to federal fraud after filing false tax returns and claims for COVID-19 relief programs.

According to Associated PressWendell Smallwood Jr. begged pleaded guilty to the charges on Friday, December 20, in Delaware. A federal judge approved the plea deal. The former NFL player filed false tax returns for himself and others in 2021 and 2022. He was able to return about $110,000, prosecutors said.

Smallwood was originally charged with three counts of wire fraud in October. He will learn about his fate during the sentencing in May 2025.

His lawyer is Mark Sheppard told in Philadelphia Inquirer that the former defense attorney appeared before the court on December 20 “and directly took full responsibility for his actions. “He admits that this is only the first step to try to make amends with the government and the people closest to him. He will continue to do so.”

The prosecutor’s office accused him of using inactive or newly registered enterprises and providing false information about their activities. He falsified the start dates, revenue amounts, expenses and number of employees of these businesses.

Smallwood used false information when he applied to the Economic Disaster Loan Program to obtain financial assistance for three businesses listed in his name. Prosecutors said the U.S. Small Business Administration approved those loans, totaling more than $46,000.

In another case, he submitted fraudulent applications under the names of at least 13 other people for another program, the Paycheck Protection Program. Smallwood received nearly $270,000 in loans and kickbacks in exchange for preparing and filing the applications, prosecutors said.

Smallwood played for the Eagles after being drafted in 2016 following his collegiate career at West Virginia University. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins during his NFL career.