NBA referee Mike Mathis of suburban Anderson Township, who denies any wrongdoing, says he expects to be indicted for federal income tax evasion.
"It's just a matter of interpretation over expense money, and it involves frequent-flier miles and everything else," Mathis told The Cincinnati Enquirer for a story Tuesday.Mathis said federal officials told all NBA referees they were being investigated. Last week, two were indicted on tax evasion charges based on their alleged practice of cashing in league-provided airline tickets.
Mathis' attorney, Terry Grady, said Mathis will defend himself vigorously against a possible indictment.
"The state of tax laws in this area is so nonexistent, unclear and confusing that Mr. Mathis could not even begin to form the requisite intent to willfully and intentionally" file fraudulent returns, Grady said.
Last week, referees Henry C. Armstrong of Virginia Beach and George T. Toliver of Harrisonburg, Va., were indicted by separate U.S. District Court grand juries.
The men allegedly downgraded first-class airline tickets provided for NBA to cheaper coach-class tickets, pocketed the difference and failed to pay taxes on the money.
The practice apparently was so widespread that a third of the league's 45 regular referees face indictment, Grady said.