š” Sources tell ESPN as many as 3 dozen Division I basketball programs could face NCAA penalties once evidence of FBI probe is public.
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Ex-Adidas execs, agent want federal charges dropped in corruption case
A U.S. District Court judge in New York will hear arguments Thursday morning about whether a federal criminal case against three of the 10 men indicted for their alleged roles in the FBI's two-year investigation into college basketball corruption should continue.
Attorneys representing former Adidas executives James Gatto and Merl Code and former sports agent Christian Dawkins are expected to argue in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that what their clients are accused of doing -- allegedly funneling money from Adidas to the families of high-profile recruits to ensure that the players signed with Adidas-sponsored schools, and then Adidas and certain sports agents and financial planners once they turned pro -- doesn't constitute a federal crime.
Gatto, Code and Dawkins face one felony count each of wire fraud. Their attorneys will also challenge the government's argument that the victims in the case are the universities where the players signed, because the players certified that they were eligible to play when they weren't after they or their families accepted improper benefits.
U.S. District Court Judge Lewis A. Kaplan is expected to rule on the defendants' motion to dismiss the charges as early as Thursday. The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York dropped federal charges against Jonathan Brad Augustine, a former AAU director in Orlando, Florida, who was accused of conspiring with the others to persuade two high school players to sign with Louisville and one with Miami.
"It's not surprising to me that the case has issues because it should have never been brought," said New York-based attorney Jeffrey Einhorn, who represents former USC assistant Tony Bland in a separate federal case related to the FBI probe. "Everything about this case stinks."
Regardless what happens with the criminal cases, sources with knowledge of the FBI investigation told ESPN this week that the clandestine probe could result in potential NCAA violations for as many as three dozen Division I programs, based on information included in wiretap conversations from the defendants and financial records, emails and cell phone records seized from NBA agent Andy Miller. His office was raided on the same day the FBI arrested 10 men, including four assistant coaches, in late September.
"It's not the mid-major programs who were trying to buy players to get to the top," a source told ESPN. "It's the teams that are already there."
Miller, the president and founder of ASM Sports in New Jersey, relinquished his NBA agent certification in December. He represented NBA stars such as Kevin Garnett, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka.
The sources told ESPN that many of the alleged incidents involve illegal cash payments to prospects and their families, as well as players and their families receiving tens of thousands of dollars from agents while they were still playing in college. In some cases, according to the sources, NCAA head coaches were aware of the payments, while others didn't have knowledge of the schemes.
"At some point, the NCAA is going to see this stuff," the source said. "What are they going to do? They can't sit on their hands. If one kid is getting punished at USC for taking money, then the kid taking money at another school has to be punished, too."
Code, Dawkins and Gatto are accused of scheming to send $100,000 to the family of five-star prospect Brian Bowen to ensure that he would sign with Louisville last summer. The FBI alleges Bowen's father accepted the money; Bowen says he was unaware of the scheme.
The FBI investigation led to the firings of longtime Cardinals coach Rick Pitino and athletics director Tom Jurich.
Sources close to the investigation told ESPN that Augustine's charges were dismissed because evidence showed that he never gave the money he received from the defendants to a high school player they wanted to sign with Miami. Instead, Augustine kept the money for himself.
Attorneys for Gatto, Code and Dawkins have filed motions in an attempt to suppress wiretap interceptions made during the FBI's investigation. Among other issues, according to the attorneys, is that the U.S. Attorney's application for the wiretap was improper.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that one of the FBI undercover agents involved in the corruption probe is accused of using the government's money on gambling, food and drinks, and was taken off the assignment once his behavior was discovered.
"The things that are happening in this case don't happen in a federal case that's done properly," Einhorn said. "I'm not going to comment about the FBI agent, but what's next?"
Bland and three other former assistant coaches -- Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans, Arizona assistant Emanuel "Book" Richardson and Auburn's Chuck Person -- are charged in separate cases related to the FBI probe, along with former NBA referee and Atlanta clothier Rashan Michel and financial planner Munish Sood. The government alleges they also conspired to funnel money from Adidas to players and their families.
"The wrong people were charged," Einhorn said. "These people are part of a situation that is much bigger than them. It's hard for me to say with a straight face that these people charged are outliers. This is what NCAA basketball is, and it's been that way for a long time."
3 more in FBI hoops probe want case dropped
A U.S. District Court judge in New York will hear arguments Thursday morning about whether a federal criminal case against three of the 10 men indicted for their alleged roles in the FBI's two-year investigation into college basketball corruption should continue.
Attorneys representing former Adidas executives James Gatto and Merl Code and former sports agent Christian Dawkins are expected to argue in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that what their clients are accused of doing -- allegedly funneling money from Adidas to the families of high-profile recruits to ensure that the players signed with Adidas-sponsored schools, and then Adidas and certain sports agents and financial planners once they turned pro -- doesn't constitute a federal crime.
Gatto, Code and Dawkins face one felony count each of wire fraud. Their attorneys will also challenge the government's argument that the victims in the case are the universities where the players signed, because the players certified that they were eligible to play when they weren't after they or their families accepted improper benefits.
U.S. District Court Judge Lewis A. Kaplan is expected to rule on the defendants' motion to dismiss the charges as early as Thursday. The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York dropped federal charges against Jonathan Brad Augustine, a former AAU director in Orlando, Florida, who was accused of conspiring with the others to persuade two high school players to sign with Louisville and one with Miami.
"It's not surprising to me that the case has issues because it should have never been brought," said New York-based attorney Jeffrey Einhorn, who represents former USC assistant Tony Bland in a separate federal case related to the FBI probe. "Everything about this case stinks."
Regardless what happens with the criminal cases, sources with knowledge of the FBI investigation told ESPN this week that the clandestine probe could result in potential NCAA violations for as many as three dozen Division I programs, based on information included in wiretap conversations from the defendants and financial records, emails and cell phone records seized from NBA agent Andy Miller. His office was raided on the same day the FBI arrested 10 men, including four assistant coaches, in late September.
"It's not the mid-major programs who were trying to buy players to get to the top," a source told ESPN. "It's the teams that are already there."
Miller, the president and founder of ASM Sports in New Jersey, relinquished his NBA agent certification in December. He represented NBA stars such as Kevin Garnett, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka.
The sources told ESPN that many of the alleged incidents involve illegal cash payments to prospects and their families, as well as players and their families receiving tens of thousands of dollars from agents while they were still playing in college. In some cases, according to the sources, NCAA head coaches were aware of the payments, while others didn't have knowledge of the schemes.
"At some point, the NCAA is going to see this stuff," the source said. "What are they going to do? They can't sit on their hands. If one kid is getting punished at USC for taking money, then the kid taking money at another school has to be punished, too."
Code, Dawkins and Gatto are accused of scheming to send $100,000 to the family of five-star prospect Brian Bowen to ensure that he would sign with Louisville last summer. The FBI alleges Bowen's father accepted the money; Bowen says he was unaware of the scheme.
The FBI investigation led to the firings of longtime Cardinals coach Rick Pitino and athletics director Tom Jurich.
Sources close to the investigation told ESPN that Augustine's charges were dismissed because evidence showed that he never gave the money he received from the defendants to a high school player they wanted to sign with Miami. Instead, Augustine kept the money for himself.
Attorneys for Gatto, Code and Dawkins have filed motions in an attempt to suppress wiretap interceptions made during the FBI's investigation. Among other issues, according to the attorneys, is that the U.S. Attorney's application for the wiretap was improper.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that one of the FBI undercover agents involved in the corruption probe is accused of using the government's money on gambling, food and drinks, and was taken off the assignment once his behavior was discovered.
"The things that are happening in this case don't happen in a federal case that's done properly," Einhorn said. "I'm not going to comment about the FBI agent, but what's next?"
Bland and three other former assistant coaches -- Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans, Arizona assistant Emanuel "Book" Richardson and Auburn's Chuck Person -- are charged in separate cases related to the FBI probe, along with former NBA referee and Atlanta clothier Rashan Michel and financial planner Munish Sood. The government alleges they also conspired to funnel money from Adidas to players and their families.
"The wrong people were charged," Einhorn said. "These people are part of a situation that is much bigger than them. It's hard for me to say with a straight face that these people charged are outliers. This is what NCAA basketball is, and it's been that way for a long time."
3 more in FBI hoops probe want case dropped
How much has this one and done mentality among elite players contribute to the mess we call college basketball? From the AAU and their sneaker money to these greedy coaches and agents wanting to control players destinations and get their own payouts, the players are getting played like an old violin. The elite players biggest concern is staying eligible through march madness. In essense, they come aboard with a freshman mentality but with all the choices of a senior. In retrospect, I don't see how the one and done has been anything but a failure. I'd rather see it go back to the Leron James era and just let them in the NBA.
50+yeartidefan
Member
[hijack]It's reported that Sexton is carrying a 4.0.[/hijack]
1
17BamaChampions
Report: Dozens of major programs could be subject to NCAA scrutiny in FBI probe
Attorneys for three defendants in the case will argue Thursday for the dismissal of federal charges
The two-year FBI probe into corruption in college basketball could result in more than just the charges already levied against the coaches and individuals implicated last fall.
According to a report from ESPN, the ongoing FBI investigation that continues to cast a cloud over the sport could result in potential NCAA penalties for as many as three dozen Division I programs, several of which reportedly could be upper-tier programs.
"It's not the mid-major programs who were trying to buy players to get to the top," a source reportedly told ESPN. "It's the teams that are already there."
Here's more details from the ESPN report.
The arguments come just days after charges were dropped against former AAU program director Brad Augustine in the corruption and bribery scandal. Federal documents allege that Augustine, who ran the 1-Family AAU program in Florida, accepted money from an undercover FBI agent and was involved in a plan to funnel $150,000 to an unnamed recruit. According to the ESPN report, the charges were dismissed because evidence showed Augustine never gave the money to the high school player in question, and instead kept the money for himself.
Although uncertainty surrounding the FBI investigation has led to speculation this season about which programs might or might not be dinged in the case, it's important to note here that the NCAA hasn't taken any sweeping actions against programs as a result of the probe. And while the consensus seems to be that more dominoes will eventually fall in the case, things have been quiet of late.
By the look of things though, the investigation might be rounding a corner soon if the reported three dozen programs could be impacted as a result of the probe.
Attorneys for three defendants in the case will argue Thursday for the dismissal of federal charges
The two-year FBI probe into corruption in college basketball could result in more than just the charges already levied against the coaches and individuals implicated last fall.
According to a report from ESPN, the ongoing FBI investigation that continues to cast a cloud over the sport could result in potential NCAA penalties for as many as three dozen Division I programs, several of which reportedly could be upper-tier programs.
"It's not the mid-major programs who were trying to buy players to get to the top," a source reportedly told ESPN. "It's the teams that are already there."
Here's more details from the ESPN report.
Regardless what happens with the criminal cases, sources with knowledge of the FBI investigation told ESPN this week that the clandestine probe could result in potential NCAA violations for as many as three dozen Division I programs, based on information included in wiretap conversations from the defendants and financial records, emails and cell phone records seized from NBA agent Andy Miller. His office was raided on the same day the FBI arrested 10 men, including four assistant coaches, in late September.
On Thursday morning, attorneys representing former Adidas executives James Gatto and Merl Code and former sports agent Christian Dawkins are expected to argue in U.S. District Court in New York that what their clients are accused of doing -- funneling money from Adidas to recruits in an effort to nefariously land players at Adidas-sponsored schools -- doesn't constitute a federal crime.The arguments come just days after charges were dropped against former AAU program director Brad Augustine in the corruption and bribery scandal. Federal documents allege that Augustine, who ran the 1-Family AAU program in Florida, accepted money from an undercover FBI agent and was involved in a plan to funnel $150,000 to an unnamed recruit. According to the ESPN report, the charges were dismissed because evidence showed Augustine never gave the money to the high school player in question, and instead kept the money for himself.
Although uncertainty surrounding the FBI investigation has led to speculation this season about which programs might or might not be dinged in the case, it's important to note here that the NCAA hasn't taken any sweeping actions against programs as a result of the probe. And while the consensus seems to be that more dominoes will eventually fall in the case, things have been quiet of late.
By the look of things though, the investigation might be rounding a corner soon if the reported three dozen programs could be impacted as a result of the probe.
A point that I've made right here a few times. So if anyone is built for a graduate degree it's Collin. No one is trying to run him off, he can stay if he wants. Doesn't change the chaos that is one and done.
Multiple sources whoāve been briefed on the case and are familiar with the material obtained by feds told Yahoo Sports that the impact on the sport will be substantial and relentless. Sitting under protective order right now are the fruits of 330 days of monitoring activity by the feds, which one assistant US Attorney noted Thursday was āa voluminous amount of material.ā That includes wiretaps from 4,000 intercepted calls and thousands of documents and bank records obtained from raids and confiscated computers, including those from notorious NBA agent Andy Miller.
āThis goes a lot deeper in college basketball than four corrupt assistant coaches,ā said a source who has been briefed on the details of the case. āWhen this all comes out, Hall of Fame coaches should be scared, lottery picks wonāt be eligible to play and almost half of the 16 teams the NCAA showed on its initial NCAA tournament show this weekend should worry about their appearance being vacated.ā
-----------------
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, presiding on the 26th floor of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in lower Manhattan, denied a motion to dismiss one of the cases with the legal equivalent of a Dikembe Mutombo finger wag after a blocked shot.
Lawyers for three of the defendants ā Adidas executives Merl Code and Jim Gatto and business manager Christian Dawkins ā had filed for a motion to dismiss the cases based essentially on the notion that the universities in the cases couldnāt be considered victims. They were, after all, benefitting from the players and their performances on the court.
As Kaplan listened impatiently to Gattoās lawyer, Michael S. Schachter, argue the motion, the judgeās mood vacillated between annoyed and ornery. His reactions to Schachterās arguments included, āit would be quite a stretch,ā āare you kidding me?ā and āIāve actually read the indictment.ā He made one jab about the media attention the case has generated and ultimately dismissed the motion by saying that Schachterās arguments would be better heard by a jury. (Schachter declined comment.)
The trial for that case will begin on Oct. 1, and the case involving former Auburn assistant Chuck Person and clothier Rashan Michel starts on Feb. 4 of 2019. (Another judge set the date for the third case ā which
āThis goes a lot deeper in college basketball than four corrupt assistant coaches,ā said a source who has been briefed on the details of the case. āWhen this all comes out, Hall of Fame coaches should be scared, lottery picks wonāt be eligible to play and almost half of the 16 teams the NCAA showed on its initial NCAA tournament show this weekend should worry about their appearance being vacated.ā
-----------------
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, presiding on the 26th floor of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in lower Manhattan, denied a motion to dismiss one of the cases with the legal equivalent of a Dikembe Mutombo finger wag after a blocked shot.
Lawyers for three of the defendants ā Adidas executives Merl Code and Jim Gatto and business manager Christian Dawkins ā had filed for a motion to dismiss the cases based essentially on the notion that the universities in the cases couldnāt be considered victims. They were, after all, benefitting from the players and their performances on the court.
As Kaplan listened impatiently to Gattoās lawyer, Michael S. Schachter, argue the motion, the judgeās mood vacillated between annoyed and ornery. His reactions to Schachterās arguments included, āit would be quite a stretch,ā āare you kidding me?ā and āIāve actually read the indictment.ā He made one jab about the media attention the case has generated and ultimately dismissed the motion by saying that Schachterās arguments would be better heard by a jury. (Schachter declined comment.)
The trial for that case will begin on Oct. 1, and the case involving former Auburn assistant Chuck Person and clothier Rashan Michel starts on Feb. 4 of 2019. (Another judge set the date for the third case ā which
planomateo
Member
opcorn2:
JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
That will not happen....all the auburn fans say only Chuck is the problem.....everything else is good to go
CmnRef
Member
Donāt you have a sarcasm emoji?
Well if Auburn fans say it, it must be true.
bama alum
Member
A colleague of mine is a barner. Both her girls went to cowtown and played in the band. She and her husband went to the UK game this week. Her husband has heard someone..."in the know" (because you know they know...) that Collin Sexton is a $250K man.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight...
I haven't seen anything from CAJ that would lead me to believe that he'll thumb his nose at the rules. He's not Pearl...by a longshot.
Well if anyone would know who is and isn't a "200k man" it would def. be barners.
That's a hell of an expensive dinner his father had...
For what it's worth...because I was curious.
ā¢South (Atlanta): (1) Virginia, (2) Cincinnati, (3) Michigan St., (4) Tennessee :
All three are Nike except Cincy who is under Under Armour.
ā¢East (Boston): (1) Villanova, (2) Duke, (3) Texas Tech, (4) Ohio State:
All three are Nike except Texas Tech who is also with Under Armour.
ā¢Midwest (Omaha): (1) Xavier, (2) Auburn, (3) Clemson, (4) Oklahoma:
All three are Nike except Auburn who is also with Under Armour.
ā¢West (Los Angeles): (1) Purdue, (2) Kansas, (3) North Carolina, (4) Arizona:
All three are Nike except Kansas who is also with Adidas.
IF what they are reporting about half of this early ranking release being in danger of having to vacate games it goes a lot deeper than just Adidas guys.
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