Former Wisconsin player, twin brother, charged with armed robbery

A former University of Wisconsin football player and his twin brother are charged in federal court with one in a string of November robberies at five businesses.

Jack Ikegwuonu and his brother, William, were charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court with armed robbery and gun possession. They're also charged in Dane County court with several counts of retail theft for allegedly stealing merchandise from Wal-Mart stores in Madison and Sun Prairie throughout September and October.

The brothers were arrested last week after an armed robbery at a dry cleaning business in Middleton. They're suspected in four other armed robberies in the area between Nov. 13 and 21, and U.S. Attorney John Vaudreuil said they could face more charges when the case is taken to a grand jury.

The brothers told police they committed all five armed robberies to help support their heroin use, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint in federal court.

The retail theft charges in Dane County Circuit Court include a felony and misdemeanors. A judge entered not guilty pleas to the misdemeanor charges on the brothers' behalf as they stood mute in court Tuesday.

Lisa Goldman, the attorney representing the Ikegwuonus, declined to comment.

Jack Ikegwuonu played for the Badgers as a cornerback from 2005 to 2007. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008 and was active for one regular-season NFL game during the 2009 season.

William Ikegwuonu played football for Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.