IBF Chief Lee Faces Charges on Tax Evasion

The embattled president of the International Boxing Federation and his son were hit with more legal trouble Wednesday when a federal grand jury indicted them for failing to report bribes on their tax returns.

Bob Lee Sr. faces six counts of filing false tax returns over the last six years. His son, Bob Jr., faces one count from 1995.

The charges were added to 32 counts filed against the Lees and other IBF officials last month. Prosecutors allege that the East Orange, N.J., organization regularly took payments from promoters and managers in exchange for pushing boxers up the rankings.

Lee Sr. has labeled the charges “outrageous.”

The additional tax counts shed light on Lee’s financial affairs, revealing that he claimed an annual income as high as $289,402 since 1993. Prosecutors hope to prove this income was augmented by unreported bribes usually ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.

In one instance, in 1995, the IBF received $100,000 from George Foreman’s promoter, according to documents and a source close to the case. That year, Foreman got an exemption to bypass quality opponents and defend his title against previously unranked Axel Schulz.

Lee has taken a leave of absence while defending himself against the charges. Next week, the U.S. attorney’s office will ask a judge to appoint an independent monitor to run the IBF.