Former Lions, Chiefs and 49ers receiver Johnnie Morton has been sentenced to two years of probation for lying to a grand jury during an IRS investigation.
Accounting Today reports that Morton testified on September 30, 2009 as part of an investigation into a business associate of Morton’s, Neang Chhorvann, who later pleaded guilty to money laundering. Morton claimed under oath that he had no business relationship with Chhorvann and had given Chhorvann a few hundred thousand dollars only as a personal loan.
Morton later admitted that was a lie, and he actually gave Chhorvann more than $2 million as part of an investment scheme. Morton also admitted that he called another potential investor in a scheme Chhorvann was running and tried to convince that investor to put money into a company called Titan Water System. Morton had claimed under oath that he knew nothing about Titan Water System.
After pleading guilty himself, Chhorvann disappeared and did not show up for sentencing. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Morton was the Lions’ first-round draft pick in 1994 and played in Detroit through 2001. He later played three seasons for the Chiefs and one for the 49ers. He is currently among the 2,000-plus players suing the NFL over concussions.