Former Viking Michael Bennett Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges

During his National Football League career, running back Michael Bennett was known for being fast. But there's one man that even the former first round pick of the Minnesota Vikings can't outrun. . .that being Johnny Law.

Bennett, who played for the Vikings from 2001 to 2005, chose to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with his role in a tax refund and identity theft scheme in South Florida. He was involved in the scheme with at least one other former NFL player, that being former New York Giants and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle William Joseph.

According to ESPN's report,

Prosecutors say the FBI operated an undercover check-cashing store in North Miami used by Bennett and seven others -- including two other former football players -- from February through April. The group allegedly cashed about $500,000 in fraudulent refund checks.

(The other former football player they cite was someone that played professionally in Europe.)

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors apparently agreed to recommend "less than the maximum 20-year sentence" for Bennett. So he's got that going for him. . .which is nice. It certainly doesn't appear that much else is going his way these days.