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Former West Virginia, Philadelphia Eagles RB Wendell Smallwood charged with COVID-19, tax fraud

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•11/21/24•

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wendell smallwood
Aug 8, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood (28) warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL running back Wendell Smallwood, who spent the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, has been charged with COVID-19 and tax fraud. According to Xerzxes Wilson of the Delaware News Journal, Smallwood has been charged with three felonies: wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

Federal prosecutors said Smallwood submitted fraudulent information to government agencies so he could receive tens of thousands of dollars in payments tied to the businesses he operated. Smallwood is also accused of engaging in a kickback conspiracy with others aimed at defrauding COVID-19 relief funds and lying to tax authorities.

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Smallwood is facing up to 50 years in prison. However, the former West Virginia running back likely won’t receive that harsh of a punishment since he has no previous criminal convictions.

“Wendell has cooperated fully with this investigation. We will have more to say when we appear in December,” Smallwood’s attorney Mark B. Sheppard said. Smallwood has not yet been arraigned and has not entered a plea. Wilson said a hearing hearing for that is set to happen next month.

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A look at Wendell Smallwood’s NFL and college careers

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The Eagles selected Smallwood in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons in Philadelphia and won a Super Bowl with the team during the 2017 season. Smallwood was waived by the Eagles on Aug. 31, 2019, but was picked up by Washington the following day. During the 2019 season, Smallwood played in 15 games and registered 81 rushing yards on 22 carries.

In 2020, Smallwood signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in just one game during the 2020 season and spent the majority of his time on the practice squad. The following season, Smallwood re-joined Washington and played in three games. In his career, Smallwood rushed for 956 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught 60 passes for 474 yards and two scores.

Before the NFL, Smallwood played three seasons at West Virginia. In 2015, the Delaware native rushed for a Big 12 Conference-leading 1,519 yards and nine touchdowns on 238 carries.