Former Bears player Chris Zorich was charged Thursday with failing to file federal income tax returns over a period of four years and federal prosecutors say he has agreed to plead guilty.

 

Zorich, 43, of Chicago, who played for the Bears from 1991-96, was charged with four misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal income tax returns for 2006-09 when he had gross income of more than $1 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

 

Prosecutors said Zorich, through his attorney, authorized the government to disclose that he is cooperating with the IRS and will plead guilty.

 

Also charged was Stephen R. Pamon, 61, of Elk Grove Village, a Cook County sheriff’s deputy who also officiated college basketball, football, and baseball games, as well as Arena Football League games. He faces four counts of failing to file federal income tax returns for 2006-09 when he had gross income of nearly $325,000, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

 

Charging documents were filed Thursday against both defendants in U.S. District Court. They will be arraigned separately on later dates.

 

According to the charges against Zorich, a 1991 graduate of Notre Dame and a 2002 graduate of its law school, he was employed by a Chicago law firm from 2002-06, and by Notre Dame from 2008-10.

 

In 1993, Zorich founded and served as executive director of the not-for-profit Chris Zorich Foundation, established to help disadvantaged families in the Chicago area and provide scholarships for disadvantaged students to attend Notre Dame.

 

The Foundation paid Zorich rental income for the use of property of about $3,000 per month, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. In 2004, the Foundation’s registration with the Attorney General’s Office was cancelled after it failed to submit an annual report for 2002, making it ineligible to solicit, receive, or hold funds in Illinois.

 

But the Foundation continued to receive contributions and make rental payments to Zorich froms 2006-09, despite failing to file tax forms reporting the payments.

 

The charges allege that Zorich received deferred compensation from the Bears, as well as rental income from the Foundation, and income from the law firm, Notre Dame and personal appearance fees. He received gross income of at least $331,625 in 2006; $70,996 in 2007; $372,448 in 2008; and $242,298 in 2009, but failed to file federal income tax returns for those years.

 

According to the charges against Pamon, in addition to working for the sheriff’s department, he worked for a private security company from 2005-08, and from 1973 through at least 2010, worked as a refereefor collegiate games, including Big Ten games, and since 2000 was a referee in Arena Football League games.

 

The charges allege Pamon received gross income of at least $102,657 in 2006; $87,474 in 2007; $59,082 in 2008; and $75,525 in 2009, but failed to file tax returns.

 

© Copyright 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC

(CHICAGO) A former Chicago Bears player and a Cook County sheriff's deputy have been charged with misdemeanor federal offenses for failing to file federal income tax returns over a period of four years.

 

Former Bears player Christopher Zorich has been charged with four counts of failing to file federal income tax returns from 2006-2009, during which time he allegedly had gross income totalling more than $1 million.

 

Zorich played for the Bears from 1991 through 1996 and for the Washington Redskins in 1997.

 

Zorich's attorney says he is cooperating with the IRS and will plead guilty.

 

Cook County sheriff's deputy Stephen Pamon of Elk Grove Village has also been charged with four counts of failing to file federal income tax return from 2006-2009, when he allegedly had a gross income totaling nearly $325,000.

 

In additon to his sheriff's duties, Pamon also officiated college basketball, football, and baseball games, as well as Arena Football League games.

 

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