Former NFL player Sam Adams charged in wage theft case

SEATTLE - Washington state has filed criminal charges against former NFL player Sam Adams, saying he failed to pay taxes and stole wages from workers at fitness clubs he ran in Seattle and Tacoma.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson says Adams and his business partner engaged in fraud and theft totaling more than $500,000.

Adams told The Associated Press on Friday he didn't know about the charges and couldn't immediately comment.

The 41-year-old was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle during his 14-year professional career. He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and played six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

Investigators said he withheld more than $7,000 in pay to 11 employees, and failed to pay the state hundreds of thousands of dollars of sales taxes he collected from customers.