Judge Rules Adidas RICO Suit Will Continue

On March 2, 2020, U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. declined to dismiss a civil racketeering lawsuit against Adidas and others, allowing the lawsuit to continue. The suit was brought by Brian Bowen II, a former University of Louisville basketball recruit, who claims that the NCAA corruption scandal cost him opportunities in both college and professional basketball.

Specifically, Judge Anderson determined that Bowen would be permitted to continue claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a federal law that provides a …

September 30, 2019 Basketball / Fraud / NCAA

All in the Family: Father of NCAA Corruption Convict Allegedly Fired for Soliciting $25,000 from Student-Athlete

Cleveland State University (CSU) has fired Lou Dawkins, the father of aspiring sports agent and convicted NCAA bribery conspirator Christian Dawkins, from his assistant basketball coach position for soliciting $25,000 from a student-athlete.

As we previously reported, Christian Dawkins and Adidas consultant, Merl Code, were convicted by a federal jury in October 2018 on fraud charges. Then, in May 2019, Dawkins and Code were convicted by another federal jury on conspiracy to bribe assistant college basketball coaches.

Dawkins is currently arguing for leniency in …

September 19, 2019 Basketball / Fraud / Litigation / NCAA

Key Witness in NCAA Corruption Trial Avoids Prison Time

Munish Sood, a crucial witness in the NCAA corruption cases, will avoid both prison time and probation, a federal judge ruled.

Sood, a New Jersey financial adviser, admitted to paying bribes to a variety of people involved in college athletics. Included are two former assistant coaches: Lamont Evans, of the University of South Carolina, and Emanuel “Book” Richardson, of the University of Arizona, who each pled guilty and faced three months of prison time.

Government counsel requested leniency at Sood’s hearing, with attorney Noah …

March 28, 2019 Celebrities / Fraud

Avenatti Strikes Back at Nike

Just one day after being arrested and charged with numerous crimes, including conspiracy to commit extortion, bank fraud, and wire fraud, celebrity lawyer and outspoken President Trump critic, Michael Avenatti, proclaimed his innocence and struck back at Nike in a CBS interview and a string of tweets.

As we just recently reported, on March 25, 2019, Avenatti was charged and taken into custody after federal prosecutors were tipped off about Avenatti’s attempt to extort up to $26.5 million from Nike. However, over the last twenty-four …

July 13, 2018 Basketball / Litigation / NCAA

Update: University of Maryland Basketball Subpoenaed in NCAA Corruption/Bribery Case

On July 6, 2018, the University of Maryland Men’s Basketball team responded to Federal Grand Jury subpoenas requesting records in the NCAA Corruption/Bribery Case. Specifically, the Grand Jury asked Maryland for records regarding an unidentified former player, assistant coach Orlando “Bino” Ranson, and Silvio De Sousa, a recruit who ultimately attended the University of Kansas. After responding to the subpoenas, Maryland made a public statement that read, “[t]he University has cooperated and will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing federal investigation.”

As we have …