Former Bear Chris Zorich Indicted For Tax Evasion

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 7, 2013 11:30PM

Former Chicago Bear and Notre Dame football player Chris Zorich was indicted on four misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal income tax returns Thursday. Zorich will plead guilty to not filing tax returns from 2006 - 2009; he made a combined $1 million in income during that time frame.

Zorich finances had been under scrutiny by federal and state authorities for years. In 2010 the IRS filed a lien on his eponymous charitable foundation, which failed to file tax returns from 2002 through 2007. Zorich was unable to account for over $350,000 in missing funds from the Chris Zorich Foundation. He and his attorney blamed the snafu on his late cousin, who was unable to devote her full attention to the charity. The charity lost its state registration in 2008, although it still received donations.

In the filing (which can be read here) prosecutors said Zorich received deferred compensation from the Bears, income from his job as an attorney, a $3,000 monthly stipend from his foundation for rental income, and personal appearances.

Zorich went to high school at Chicago Vocational, graduated from Notre Dame and eventually earned his J.D. from there. He started the Chris Zorich Foundation in 1993 as a tribute to his mother, who raised him on next to nothing. During Zorich’s time with the Bears he was known for his philanthropy and charitable endeavors, including handing out turkeys on Thanksgiving. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 1993 and selected to the College Football Hall of fame in 2007.