Former NFL quarterback JaMarcus Russell is in hot water after allegedly stealing over $70,000 meant for a high school where he worked. The ex-Oakland Raider was recently fired from his volunteer football coaching job at Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama, nearly two years after the alleged theft.
Russell is accused of stealing a $74,000 donation made to the school’s football team. He reportedly approached local entrepreneur Chris Knowles to help fund the program’s weight room equipment. After Knowles cut the check, it never reached the school.
Instead, Russell is accused of depositing the check into his account at Navigator Credit Union in July 2022. He then withdrew $55,000 in cash. Knowles became alarmed when Russell refused to provide a donation receipt and cut off communication. As a result, Knowles eventually stopped payment on the check.
Navigator Credit Union sued Russell in March 2023 for the $55,000 they had advanced him as a loan while the check was still clearing. While Russell admitted to depositing the money into his personal account, he boldly filed a claim against Knowles for stopping the check.
Williamson High School has banned Russell from the campus and from contacting the football players. However, he has already been accused of violating this by attending an off-campus event where the team was playing.
It remains unclear why Russell deposited the check into his personal account, especially given the millions he earned during his NFL career. Russell was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the Raiders, reportedly earning over $36.4 million before retiring. It has not yet been announced if Russell will face criminal charges related to the stolen money.
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