Former NFL quarterback JaMarcus Russell is facing legal trouble after being sued by Navigator Credit Union for cashing a check intended as a donation to his alma mater, Williamson High School.
According to the lawsuit filed in Mobile County, Alabama, Russell cashed a $74,000 check meant for the purchase of new weight training equipment for the school’s football team. The credit union is now seeking nearly $55,000, plus interest, attorney’s fees, and other costs from Russell.
JaMarcus Russell is facing legal issues over a cashed check intended for his high school
The funds were lent to Russell at his request, with the understanding that they would be used for the donation. However, the football program never received the intended donation. The near-$55,000 being sought by the credit union was reportedly given to Russell by mistake when he cashed the check.
The lawsuit also involves a man named Chris Knowles, who wrote the $74,000 check to Russell from his business, Selwonk Enterprises. Knowles allegedly stopped payment on the check when Russell failed to provide proof of the donation and stopped returning his calls.
Russell, a former volunteer assistant football coach at Williamson High School, was removed from the coaching staff in fall 2023 for ‘personnel reasons.’ He has since filed a counterclaim against Knowles for stopping payment on the check, admitting to cashing it but denying any ‘wrongdoing.’
The case against Russell is expected to go to trial in October. Russell, a Heisman Trophy winner, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. However, his NFL career lasted only three seasons due to poor performance, and he never played in the league again after his release.
