Antonio Brown Faces Allegations Of Hiding Assets In Bankruptcy Case

Kelly Coffey-Behrens

Fri, Dec 27, 2024, 6:45 PM 4 min read

Antonio Brown at 2019 Roc Nation Pre-GRAMMY Brunch — MEGA

Former NFL star Antonio Brown is facing the potential dismissal of his bankruptcy case after being accused of failing to disclose key assets and financial information.

Brown initially filed for bankruptcy in May, listing liabilities exceeding $3 million despite earning over $80 million throughout his football career.

Jeweler Zul Nantambu also sued Antonio Brown as part of his bankruptcy proceedings.

Antonio Brown May Get Bankruptcy Case Dismissed

Antonio Brown at Craig's for dinner — MEGA

In recent developments, the court-appointed trustee overseeing Brown’s Chapter 11 case objected to his proposed repayment plan, citing multiple concerns. According to In Touch, the trustee stated, "[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."

According to the filing, Brown is accused of failing to report the transfer of three properties before filing for bankruptcy. Additionally, the trustee claims Brown "appears to be the owner of multiple social media handles … which are estate assets that the debtor failed to disclose on his schedule."

One of these handles, Brown's X account, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, allegedly includes a link to a website selling merchandise featuring his likeness, further raising questions about undisclosed revenue streams. The trustee also noted Brown’s failure to submit operating reports for September and October 2024, as required in the bankruptcy proceedings.

Furthermore, the filing points out that "several adversary proceedings remain pending against the Debtor concerning the dischargeability of debts."

Antonio Brown Outlines His Debts

In his filing, Brown outlined debts that included:

$1.2 million owed from a civil lawsuit
A potential six-figure debt to a jeweler
$300,000 owed to a marketing firm
$170,000 to a law firm
$168,000 to American Express
$100,000 in various other obligations

The trustee added, “[Antonio] stated his gross monthly income was $39,166.67 with monthly expenses of $27,868.09, but his operating reports only show a single $200 deposit in June 2024 and two $15 debits in July 2024 and August 2024. There is no explanation provided in the operating reports where the additional $195,663.35 of income was deposited or spent, and there is no detail for the purported $139,310.45 of expenses stated on [Antonio’s] schedules. It is impossible to determine which, if any, of the documents filed by [Antonio] honestly depict [Antonio’s] financial status.”

They continued, “[Antonio’s] failure to disclose transactions and report accurate financials evidence that [Antonio] did not propose the Plan in good faith and necessitates denial of confirmation.”

In a final assertion, the trustee told the court, "The financial information disclosed by [Antonio] is contradictory."

Antonio Brown Sued By Zul Nantambu

As part of Brown's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, jeweler Zul Nantambu has filed a lawsuit requesting that a judgment awarded against Brown not be cleared through the bankruptcy process.

According to court documents, Zul alleges he loaned Brown a custom-made pendant and a diamond-cut Cuban link chain intended for the former NFL star to use in social media photo shoots and video reels. The agreement required Brown to return the jewelry by May 18, 2022. However, Zul claims Brown failed to return the items, instead giving him the runaround and ultimately holding onto the pieces.

Zul pursued legal action and was initially awarded a $123,000 judgment. A subsequent final judgment of $968,000 was issued but later vacated due to a procedural issue. Zul is now asking the court to ensure the $123,000 debt remains enforceable and is not discharged through bankruptcy.

Brown has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and formally requested that Zul's petition be dismissed. The matter remains ongoing as part of Brown's larger bankruptcy case.

Antonio Brown's Past Legal Troubles

Former NFL wide receiver Brown has faced a series of legal challenges throughout both his professional football career and his post-NFL life.

In 2018, Brown’s legal troubles began with two notable incidents: he was accused of throwing furniture from his 14th-floor apartment in Florida, nearly hitting a 22-month-old child—a lawsuit he later settled in April 2019. That same year, he was cited for reckless driving after being caught speeding over 100 mph in a 45-mph zone near Pittsburgh, resulting in a fine in February 2019.

The Ex-NFL Player's Legal Past Continues

In September 2019, his former trainer, Britney Taylor, filed a sexual assault lawsuit, accusing him of multiple instances of assault, including rape. While Brown denied the allegations, the lawsuit was ultimately settled in April 2021.

Additionally, Brown faced several lawsuits over unpaid debts, including claims from a personal chef and a personal trainer, both alleging he failed to pay for services rendered.

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