Ex-NBA star owes giant nugget
The IRS and state of South Carolina claim old school NBA star Alex English, assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors, owes more than $127,000 in delinquent taxes, according to public records.
English, however, disputes the debt.
The prolific Hall of Fame forward, who was paid an estimated $12.4 million during his career, was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1976 NBA draft but excelled on the Denver Nuggets teams in the 1980s. He also played for the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks before being released in 1991.
What's owed:
- The IRS filed a $88,071 tax lien against Alex and his wife on Feb. 19 in the Richland County (S.C.) Recorder's office.
- The state of South Carolina filed a $10,066 lien against the couple on May 12, 2008, in Richland County.
- The state filed a $423 lien against the couple on May 4, 2007, in Richland County.
- The state filed a $14,488 lien against the couple on March 15, 2007, in Richland County.
- The state filed a $1,215 lien against the couple on March 20, 2006, in Richland County.
- The state filed a $5,055 lien against the couple on July 12, 2004, in Richland County.
- The state filed an $8,373 lien against Alex English on Jan. 9, 2004, in Richland County.
The address on the liens is this spread in Blythewood, S.C.
Their side:
In a brief phone message, English, 55, did not explain what led to the tax liens.
"It's a matter that is in dispute," he said. "It's something that is being worked out. It is in dispute so I have no other comment."
Detroit city official facing $200k tax bill
With former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in court last week, it's a good time to revisit a fringe player in the city's text-message scandal. Former Deputy Corporation Counsel Brenda Braceful, who according to text messages released in court cattily said a former city official was "full of s---," is actually full of debt, according to public records. Braceful owes more than $198,000 in delinquent state and federal taxes and property taxes.
Braceful, 57, has a checkered history. She lost her law license last year for mishandling thousands of dollars in client's funds yet found another public-sector job working in the city's human resources department. She makes $70,000.
Earlier this year, she surfaced as a bit player in the Kilpatrick scandal. Thanks to our good friend court records, Braceful was caught texting trash with another city official.
Braceful also emerged in September as a player in a secret settlement of a controversial police harassment case.
What's owed:
- The state of Michigan filed a $17,580 lien against Braceful on March 4 in the Wayne County Register of Deeds office.
- The IRS filed a $143,741 lien on Oct. 6, 2006, in Wayne County.
- The IRS filed a $32,590 lien on May 6, 2005, in Wayne County.
- The Wayne County Treasurer filed a certificate of forfeiture -- a first step towards possible foreclosure -- on April 1 in the Wayne County Register of Deeds office. She owes $4,867.17 in delinquent property taxes, interest and fees on her west side home, according to the county's Web site.
Her side:
Braceful did not return a call seeking comment.
Political pundit Ed Rollins pummeled by debt
The architect of President Reagan's landslide 1984 re-election campaign, heavyweight CNN political consultant Ed Rollins, owes more than $1.33 million in state and federal taxes, records show.
Rollins, 66, who has served in the administrations of four presidents, is a senior political contributor for CNN and senior fellow at Hofstra University's Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency.
He also served as national campaign chairman for Mike Huckabee's presidential run last year.
What's owed:
- The IRS filed an $87,623 lien against Rollins on Sept. 10 in the New York City Register's office.
- The IRS filed a $47,518 lien on July 29 in New York City.
- The state of New York filed a $42,068 tax warrant on July 26 in the New York County Clerk's office.
- The IRS filed a $13,567 lien on May 21 in the Westchester County (NY) Clerk's office.
- The IRS filed a $977,458 lien on March 11 in New York City.
- The state of Oklahoma filed a $21,622 tax warrant on Jan. 18, 2008, in the Oklahoma County Clerk's office.
- The state of New York filed a $127,391 tax warrant on Dec. 17, 2007, in Westchester County.
- The state of Oklahoma filed a $13,492 tax warrant on June 10, 2005, in Oklahoma County.
His side:
In an interview today, Rollins said he has arranged a payment plan with the IRS and has paid a substantial portion of those liens. He said the New York state tax debt has been paid.
He disputes the Oklahoma liens because he says he never worked in the state, though he did work for a company based there.
"I don't want to dismiss or discount," the debt, Rollins said. "It's been a serious problem, I've been delinquent and the bottom line is I am getting it resolved.
"It's a long story; people not paying their bills," he added. "In the political business, often times you don't get paid. I had a few rough years and got behind."
Comedienne/actress' company faces tax hangover
It's not the booze, it's the bills giving Rachael Harris a "hangover." A production company headed by the bespectacled actress, who starred in this summer's breakout hit "The Hangover," owes more than $19,800 in federal taxes, records show.
Harris is a 41-year-old veteran comedienne who starred as a correspondent on "The Daily Show" and recently made a cameo in the ABC show "Cougar Town." She also serves as president of the Los Angeles-based production company Working Birthmark Inc.
What's owed:
- The IRS filed a $19,838 lien against Working Birthmark Inc. on Oct. 27, 2008, in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
Her side:
Neither Harris nor a Working Birthmark official could be reached for comment. ABC declined comment.
See where she lives.
Her company's tax debt is puny compared to the value of Harris' $947,000 home in Los Angeles.
WJR radio host addresses tax debt
The state and IRS claim WJR-AM (760) financial talk show host Terry Sawchuk owes more than $196,000 in delinquent taxes.
The 40-year-old Birmingham resident, who is not related to the late, great Detroit Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk, is the founder and chairman of Troy-based financial advisory firm Sawchuk & Langenstein Wealth Strategies. He also dishes financial advice on his show, "Wealth Strategies," at 11 a.m. Sundays on WJR.
What's owed:
- The IRS filed a $76,744 lien against Sawchuk and his wife on April 22 in the Oakland County Register of Deeds office.
- The IRS filed a $98,171 lien against the couple on Jan. 16 in Oakland County.
- The state of Michigan filed a $21,760 lien against Terry Sawchuk on May 28, 2008, in Oakland County.
Their side:
Sawchuk said he has paid off the $21,760 state lien and owes less than $100,000 on the federal tax liens. The balance should be paid off in a few weeks.
He attributed the debt to a cash-flow problem after buying a $1.7 million home in Birmingham just before the market tanked in 2007.
Problem was, he still owed a home in Oxford that he had difficulty selling and the two mortgages devoured his income.
Yet he refused to walk away from the Oxford home and saddle fellow credit union members -- government employees such as police officers and firefighters -- with the loss, he said.
When Sawchuk finally sold the Oxford place in December, he said he lost about $400,000.
"It wiped me out and left me with not much cash," he said.
Compounding the problem, he was unable to tap money tied up in a deferred-compensation plan.
"The reason this has dragged out so long is I was working with the IRS in an effort to try to gain access to the deferred-compensation plan," Sawchuk said. "I've got the money in the account, but I don't have access to it."
The tax debt does not reflect on his ability to manage clients' money or give sound financial advice, he said.
"It doesn't effect what I do," he said. "If you follow the radio show, I've given great financial advice. I don't want to be lumped in with Bernie Madoff."
Tax man targets edgy actor Eric Roberts
Silver screen psycho Eric Roberts, brother of Oscar-winner Julia Roberts, owes more than $345,000 in delinquent state and federal taxes, records show.
The former soap opera actor was nominated for an Oscar after starring in 1985's "Runaway Train" and is perhaps best known for his edgy role in "Star 80" as the jealous husband of Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten. Last year, he played a gangster in the Batman flick "The Dark Knight."
Roberts, 53, also starred in the 2006 made-for-TV-movie "Fatal Desire," inspired by a Flint-area murder case and true-crime book.
Roberts, who owns this home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., is the father of teen singer/actress Emma Roberts.
What's owed:
- The IRS filed a $232,549 lien against Roberts and his wife, actress Eliza Garrett, on Sept. 25 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
- The state of California filed an $86,670 lien against the couple on March 27 in Los Angeles.
- The IRS filed a $26,104 lien against the couple on Sept. 22, 2008, in Los Angeles.
Their side:
Roberts could not be reached for comment and did not respond to an e-mail sent to his production company.
Bonus clip:
Here's a movie trailer from "Star 80" showing Roberts' eerie charm.
Former Knicks star Anthony Mason in hairy tax trap
Former Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks star Anthony Mason, famous for shaving slogans in his hair, owes more than $1.8 million in state and federal taxes, records show.
His state income tax debt alone is the 11th largest delinquency in Wisconsin, where he played for the Bucks from 2001-03.
Mason, 42, known for this brutish style, earned more than $41.4 million in salary during his NBA career.
What's owed:
- The state of Wisconsin filed a $224,225 tax warrant against Mason on Oct. 5 in Dane County Circuit Court. The amount includes $70,000 in interest and $41,658 in penalties.
- The IRS filed a $217,394 lien against Mason on April 14 in the Westchester County (NY) Clerk's office.
- The state of Wisconsin filed an $835,755 tax warrant against Mason on June 3, 2008, in Milwaukee. The debt includes $195,482 in interest and $166,784 in penalties.
- The state of Wisconsin filed a $570,376 tax warrant against Mason on June 3, 2008, in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. The debt includes $200,415 in interest and $100,467 in penalties.
His side:
Neither Mason nor his former agent could be reached for comment.
'That's Incredible!' how much Cathy Lee Crosby owes tax man
Actress Cathy Lee Crosby, a crime-fighting, quarterback-dating, network star-battling, carny-friendly Scientologist, author and co-host of 1980s reality show "That's Incredible!" owes more than $60,000 in state and federal taxes, records show.
What's owed:
- The IRS filed a $47,649 lien against Crosby on Sept. 18 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
- The state of California filed a $2,399 lien on May 2, 2008, in Los Angeles.
- The state of California filed a $10,050 lien on March 19, 2007, in Los Angeles.
Her side:
Crosby could not be reached for comment. She did not respond to phone and e-mail messages and her production company's lawyer said he no longer represents her.
Bonus clip:
Here's Crosby teasing a stupid human trick on "That's Incredible!"
World Trade Center designer's firm faces mounting debt
The firm once headed by celebrated architect Minoru Yamasaki, who designed the World Trade Center, owes $537,128 in state and federal taxes, records show.
Public records show tax troubles started to mount for Troy-based Minoru Yamasaki Associates seven years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks destroyed his most high-profile design.
The firm has designed many critically acclaimed office and government building, airport terminals and other structures around the world, from Southfield to Saudi Arabia. Among the firm's works are the Dhahran Air Terminal in Saudi Arabia and DeRoy Hall on the campus of Wayne State University.
For the World Trade Center project, Yamasaki spent 16 years and went through 105 sets of plans beginning in the early 1960s.
He worked in Detroit from 1945 until his death in 1986.
What's owed:
- The state of Michigan filed a $136,560 lien against the firm on Oct. 5 in the Oakland County Register of Deeds office.
- The IRS filed a $314,883 lien on Aug. 18 in Oakland County.
- The state filed a $4,290 lien on Aug. 6 in Oakland County.
- The state filed an $11,237 lien on May 29 in Oakland County.
- The state filed a $6,397 lien on Dec. 15, 2008, in Oakland County.
- The state filed a $30,132 lien on Dec. 1, 2008, in Oakland County.
- The state filed a $12,975 lien on Sept. 23, 2008, in Oakland County.
- The state filed a $20,654 lien on July 23, 2008, in Oakland County.
Their side:
The firm's tax attorney, Steven Nofar of Bloomfield Hills, said he expects the tax issues will be resolved soon but did not explain what led to the liens.
"All I can tell you is we're resolving the tax issues to clear up the errors and to pay off whatever's due," he said.
Livan Hernandez leaving creditors far behind
Former World Series MVP Livan Hernandez faces foreclosure on his $1.3 million Miami home and could fill a dugout with creditors who are either suing the Washington Nationals pitcher or filing liens for unpaid debts and taxes, records show.
The money problems are surfacing 12 years after Hernandez won a World Series ring with the Jim Leyland-coached Florida Marlins and despite the Cuba native earning more than $50.2 million in salary.
What's owed:
- On Aug. 19, SunTrust Bank sued Hernandez in Miami, and is trying to foreclose on the mortgage for his 4,643-square-foot home (see below), according to this public record. The home, coincidentally, is for sale for $1.42 million, according to this listing.
- A day earlier, on Aug. 18, the neighborhood association that governs the pitcher's $981,000 Miami Beach condo filed a $3,587 lien for unpaid bills, which you can see here.
- He's also catching heat from a second neighborhood association. The Bay Point Property Owners Association filed a lien July 8, claiming the pitcher owed more than $2,700 for property maintenance, attorney fees and costs associated with the Miami home, according to this public record.
- Even the pool guy is pursuing Hernandez. David Cohen, president of All Florida Pools & Spa Center, filed this lien on Sept. 17, claiming Hernandez failed to pay $1,102 in pool repairs.
- The state of California filed a $29,791 lien against Hernandez on Jan. 25, 2008, in Sacramento County Court. It is the second lien filed against Hernandez in recent years.
- On Aug. 20, 2008, the IRS released a $307,268 income tax lien that had been filed three months earlier in Miami, according to this public record.
His side:
Hernandez could not be reached for comment and his agents did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Washington Nationals spokesman John Dever also declined comment.
See the Miami home that faces foreclosure:
