Former New York Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman sentenced to 6 months in prison for tax evasion

Ex-Mets pitcher sentenced for tax evasion in Wis.

MADISON, Wis. — A federal judge in Wisconsin has sentenced former New York Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman to six months in prison for not paying his taxes.

Prosecutors say Jerry Koosman, a former all-star who helped the Mets win the 1969 World Series, didn’t pay federal income taxes for 2002, 2003 and 2004, costing the government as much as $90,000.

According to IRS agents, 66-year-old Koosman told them he had researched tax laws and concluded they applied only to federal workers, corporate employees and District of Columbia residents.

He pleaded guilty in May to misdemeanor tax evasion for 2002 in a deal with prosecutors. He was sentenced Thursday.