ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Professional golfer Jim Thorpe was sentenced to one year in prison Friday for income tax evasion.
Thorpe, 60, a 13-time winner on the Champions Tour, pleaded guilty last September to two counts of failing to pay income taxes. He has agreed to pay all taxes, interest and penalties owed.
"I've definitely made some mistakes," he admitted. "It was my fault."
Friday's sentencing in U.S. District Court in Orlando came after federal prosecutors said Thorpe, one of the first blacks ever to compete on the PGA Tour, owed the Internal Revenue Service more than $2 million over a three-year period.
The Orlando Sentinel reported U.S. Magistrate Judge Karla R. Spaulding heard testimony about Thorpe helping others and volunteering for several charitable events, but Spaulding limited his sentence to one year instead of two with his prior actions playing a role.
