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LeRoy Butler Foundation under investigation
LeRoy Butler Foundation under investigation
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Packers Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler is now part of a criminal investigation. According to a Gannett Wisconsin Media investigation, Butler's charity work has been under scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since at least July. But the inquiry expanded at some point to include federal prosecutors.
According to Gannett, Butler's charity, The LeRoy Butler Foundation, has held charity fundraisers in Wisconsin for the past decade while filing only one required annual return with the IRS.
Now, that foundation is shutting down.
Back in March, LeRoy Butler appeared on FOX6 WakeUp News to talk about The LeRoy Butler Foundation and its efforts to help women diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I love people. I like getting out there and helping the community," Butler said.
FOX6 News spoke with a former sponsor of a LeRoy Butler charity golf outing. Two months ago, the company got a subpoena for documents.
"Every receipt, every check, every 1099, every picture, anything that had to do, that had Leroy's name associated to it, send them a copy of it," K-Tech Kleening Systems President Craig Kersemeier said.
K-Tech Kleening says it cut ties with The LeRoy Butler Foundation after questions arose about where the funds were going.
Records show the foundation hasn't filed tax returns with the IRS since 2002 -- even though Butler has continued raising money under its name.
FOX Sports reported Butler wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday: "I have helped hundreds of women with breast cancer and to try to make it seem that I didn't is false."
That post has since been deleted.
On the foundation's website is an announcement that 2013 is the foundation's "final year of operations."
Two weeks ago, a Green Bay travel agency says Butler sent them a text message backing out of a trip to Riviera Maya that would have raised money for his foundation.
The agency recruited two Packers players to replace Butler, but stands to lose $20,000 if the trip doesn't work out.
"I was never really offered an explanation as to why, other than it was, he just thought it was in everyone's best interest," Scott Milheiser with Orion Travel LLC. said.
Gannett Wisconsin Media says Butler has also drawn criticism for taking appearance fees of up to $10,000 at his own events.
Federal court filings do not list any charges against Butler.