Antonio Brown is accused in a bankruptcy case of concealing assets

Antonio Brown, a former NFL player, may have his bankruptcy case dismissed after it was alleged that he had withheld important assets and financial data.

Although Brown made nearly $80 million throughout his football career, he first declared bankruptcy in May, alleging debts of more than $3 million.

In the course of his bankruptcy procedures, jeweler Zul Nantambu also filed a lawsuit against Antonio Brown.

Antonio Brown’s bankruptcy case could be dismissed.

The court-appointed trustee in charge of Brown’s Chapter 11 case recently raised objections to his suggested repayment schedule, citing a number of issues. According to In Touch, the trustee said, “[Antonio] has failed to disclose his pre-petition [transfer] of property and his interests in various entities, has not timely or adequately complied with debtor reporting requirements, and cannot establish that his Plan is feasible.”

The complaint alleges that Brown neglected to disclose the sale of three properties prior to declaring bankruptcy. Furthermore, according to the trustee, Brown “appears to be the owner of multiple social media handles … which are estate assets that the debtor failed to disclose on his schedule.”

Further casting doubt on unreported revenue streams is the claim that one of these handles, Brown’s X account on the social networking site previously known as Twitter, contains a link to a store offering items bearing his picture. In addition, the trustee pointed out that Brown had neglected to file the operational reports for September and October of 2024 that were necessary for the bankruptcy process.

The document also notes that “several adversary proceedings remain pending against the Debtor concerning the discharge ability of debts.”

An Overview of Antonio Brown’s Debts

“[Antonio] claimed that his gross monthly income was $39,166.67 and that his monthly expenses were $27,868.09, but his operating reports only show a single $200 deposit in June 2024 and two $15 debits in July and August 2024,” the trustee said. The operational records don’t explain where the extra $195,663.35 in money was transferred or spent, and they don’t go into depth about the alleged $139,310.45 in costs that were shown on [Antonio’s] schedules. Which, if any, of the records [Antonio] filed accurately reflect [Antonio’s] financial situation cannot be ascertained.

“[Antonio] did not propose the Plan in good faith and necessitates denial of confirmation,” they said, citing his refusal to provide correct financials and reveal transactions.

“The financial information disclosed by [Antonio] is contradictory,” the trustee concluded in a statement to the court.

Brown, Antonio Zul Nantambu filed a lawsuit

Jeweler Zul Nantambu has launched a lawsuit against Brown as part of the company’s continuing bankruptcy procedures, asking that a judgment against Brown not be discharged.

Zul claims in court filings that he lent Brown a diamond-cut Cuban link chain and a bespoke pendant so the former NFL player could utilize them in social media photo sessions and video reels. According to the deal, Brown has until May 18, 2022, to return the jewels. 

Zul, however, asserts that Brown gave him the runaround and kept the parts instead of returning them.

After pursuing legal proceedings, Zul was first given a judgment of $123,000. Due to a procedural error, a subsequent final judgment of $968,000 was subsequently annulled. Zul is now requesting that the court make sure the $123,000 debt is not wiped through bankruptcy and is still enforceable.

Brown has officially asked that Zul’s petition be refused and refuted all of the accusations of misconduct. The issue is still pending as it relates to Brown’s broader bankruptcy case.

Antonio Brown’s Previous Court Cases

Throughout his professional football career and his post-NFL life, former NFL wide receiver Brown has encountered several legal issues.

Two significant occurrences in 2018 marked the start of Brown’s legal issues: he was accused of hurling furniture from his 14th-floor Florida condo, almost striking a 22-month-old kid; the case was subsequently resolved in April 2019. He was fined in February 2019 for reckless driving after being detected over 100 mph in a 45 mph zone close to Pittsburgh the same year.

The former NFL player’s legal history is still ongoing.

Britney Taylor, his former trainer, accused him of several assaults, including rape, in a sexual assault complaint she filed in September 2019. Despite Brown’s denial of the accusations, the case was eventually resolved in April 2021.

Furthermore, Brown was the target of other lawsuits for unpaid bills, including ones from a personal trainer and chef who claimed he neglected to pay for their services.