Ex-NFL star Plaxico Burress accused of failing to pay taxes; he is 1st charged under new law

Former NFL star Plaxico Burress has been indicted on criminal charges related to a New Jersey tax payment.

The 37-year-old former wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and New York Jets was charged last week with willful failure to pay a state tax and issuing a bad check or electronic funds transfer.

The Mercer County prosecutor's office announced the charges Thursday.

Burress is the first person in the state to be charged under a new law that makes issuing a bad electronic funds transfer a criminal offense.

Each offense could carry up to a five-year prison term if he is convicted.

Burress lives in Totowa. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment.