Fourth Referee Faces Tax Heat

Tue., April 15, 1997

Jess Kersey on Monday became the fourth NBA referee to be indicted on tax evasion charges for allegedly failing to pay income taxes on money he saved by downgrading league-issued plane tickets.

A federal grand jury indicted Kersey, 56, of Williamsburg, Va., on five charges of tax evasion, the U.S. attorney’s office said. The maximum penalty for each violation is three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

NBA referees Mike Mathis, George Toliver and Hank Armstrong were indicted on similar charges in February.

The men allegedly traded in first-class airline tickets for cheaper tickets, pocketed the difference and failed to pay taxes on the money.

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Fourth Referee Faces Tax Heat

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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