Richmond, VA — Christopher Harrison, a former NFL player and University of Virginia (UVA) football star, is set to face prison time after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud. The charges stem from his involvement in embezzling funds from commercial real estate projects intended for construction, according to the Department of Justice.
Harrison, who previously played for the Detroit Lions and later became a real estate developer, was charged in October 2024 for using loan funds meant for construction purposes for his own personal benefit. The case centers on two separate development projects, one in Richmond, Virginia, and another in North Carolina. Harrison secured loans totaling more than $22 million for these projects but later diverted funds for personal use.
The charges against him originally included wire fraud, mail fraud, engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, and aggravated identity theft. However, Harrison recently pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in federal court.
Court records show that Harrison, in October 2020, expressed interest in acquiring the Model Tobacco Building in Richmond, with plans to turn it into a housing development. To fund the project, he applied for a construction loan from Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, requesting $95,200. However, he inflated the cost of the invoice associated with the project, which initially amounted to $35,477. Harrison then took a cashier’s check for the inflated amount, deposited it into his personal account, and concealed the fraudulent transaction.
As a result of the guilty plea, the remaining charges against Harrison will be dropped. Harrison is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for June 2025. While the maximum penalty for wire fraud can be up to 20 years in prison, legal experts suggest that federal cases rarely result in the maximum sentence. Russ Stone, a legal analyst for 8News, explained that the court would consider various factors before determining Harrison’s sentence, which could include a period of incarceration.
Despite the charges and guilty plea, Harrison’s legal team has declined to comment on the case. As the former athlete’s future now hinges on the upcoming sentencing, the case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of financial crimes, even for individuals with high-profile careers.
