Antonio Brown On The Hook For Possibly Misleading The Court In Bankruptcy Case

Did Antonio Brown fake an illness to get out of a court appearance?

The former pro footballer is currently facing accusations of being dishonest with the court for failing to attend an important hearing.

In May 2024, Antonio Brown filed for bankruptcy, listing liabilities over $3 million despite having earned more than $80 million throughout his football career.

The former NFL star is now facing accusations of misleading the court regarding his health to delay an important hearing in his bankruptcy case. The court had initially postponed the hearing after Brown's attorney claimed he could not attend due to medical issues. 

However, the trustee overseeing Brown's bankruptcy later argued that he was not in poor health, as evidenced by his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast just a day after the hearing.

The trustee is now seeking to convert Brown's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case to a Chapter 7, which would give the trustee greater control over Brown's finances. The trustee even suggested dismissing the bankruptcy altogether.

Brown appeared as a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in Austin, Texas, where he reportedly spent 98 minutes discussing various topics. According to In Touch, the trustee shared a photo Brown had posted on X, featuring him at Rogan's studio.

In the ongoing case, the trustee also raised significant concerns regarding the accuracy of the financial information Brown submitted. Specifically, the trustee pointed out discrepancies in his fourth amended schedule, which indicated a monthly income of $35,000 and expenses of $27,927. 

The trustee suggested that these figures might be either negligently or intentionally misleading compared to the monthly operating reports. They argued that such gross mismanagement in reporting income and expenses warrants either the dismissal of the case or a conversion to a different proceeding. 

Additionally, the trustee highlighted that there were incomplete disclosures and other insufficiencies in the footballer's financial reporting, and inaccurate monthly operating reports, and lack of fulsome amendments to address the same. The trustee emphasized:

"The debtor's absence of honesty, by claiming an inability to attend the specially set confirmation hearing due to a feigned medical illness (yet flying to Texas for a podcast the next day at the latest), evidences the Debtor's bad faith conduct and eliminates any need to continue this reorganization."

Last year, The Blast noted that Brown faced allegations of not fully disclosing his property and assets, which could jeopardize his bankruptcy case.

Additionally, the court-appointed trustee managing Brown's Chapter 11 proceedings raised objections to his proposed repayment plan, highlighting several concerns regarding the plan's feasibility and compliance.

In the trustee's words: "[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."

Brown was accused of failing to disclose the transfer of three properties prior to filing for bankruptcy. The trustee's claims also stated that he owns multiple social media accounts, considered estate assets not reported in his bankruptcy filings.

Specifically, Brown's X account, previously known as Twitter, includes a link to a merchandise website featuring his likeness, indicating potential undisclosed revenue sources. Additionally, the trustee noted that Brown failed to tender the required operating reports for September and October 2024.

The bankruptcy filing also highlighted that several adversary proceedings are pending regarding the dischargeability of his debts.

Brown's jeweler, Zul Nantambu, also initiated a lawsuit against him last year, seeking to prevent a judgment against him from being cleared through bankruptcy. 

Court documents revealed that Nantambu lent Brown a custom-made pendant and a diamond-cut Cuban link chain for his social media promotions.

According to the agreement, Brown was supposed to return the jewelry by May 18, 2022, but failed to do so, repeatedly delaying and ultimately keeping the pieces.

Initially, the jeweler was awarded a judgment of $123,000, which was later raised to $968,000 but subsequently vacated due to procedural issues. He is now appealing to the court to ensure the original $123,000 debt remains enforceable despite Brown's bankruptcy proceedings. 

Meanwhile, Brown has denied any wrongdoing and has formally requested the dismissal of Nantambu's petition.

Last year, The Blast shared that Brown found himself in the spotlight due to a social media controversy. He reportedly stirred up significant attention when he publicly shared private messages from Tom Brady during Brady's divorce proceedings with Gisele Bündchen. 

In those texts, Brady expressed his disappointment in Brown's actions, criticizing him for making "poor decisions" and failing to communicate effectively with those who had supported him.

The retired NFL star reflected on how their relationship had initially showcased Brown's humility and willingness to improve. 

However, Brady noted with concern that Brown seemed to have strayed from a positive path, surrounding himself with negative influences instead of the supportive individuals who once had his best interests at heart.

Will the hammer of justice come down on Antonio Brown in the coming days?