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Four Assistant Coaches Arrested on Fraud Charges

Four Division I assistant basketball coaches were arrested by federal authorities on Tuesday on fraud charges related to a two-year FBI investigation. The matter revolves around brides being offered to prospective student-athletes In total, ten people are facing charges in New York US District Court.

The assistant coaches arrested were Chuck Person (Auburn), Tony Bland (Southern California), Emanuel Richardson (Arizona) and Lamont Evans (Oklahoma State). Others charged include player agents, AAU directors and representatives from Adidas (including Director of Global Sports Marketing Jim Gatto).

The University of Louisville and University of Miami (FL) also appear to be involved in the scandal, though no one from either school was named or charged. Both are Adidas schools and while not named explicitly in court documents, information given almost certainly correlates to each schools’ involvement. Louisville’s inclusion is particularly troubling as the school is currently on NCAA probation from their recent escort scandal which also resulted in a five-game suspension for head coach Rick Pitino to start the 2017-18 season.

In addition to allegations of Adidas reps and coaches funneling money to student athletes are allegations of bribes being paid to coaches in order to push athletes to use specific financial managers once they have left school.

We will have more information on this story as it continues to develop.

UPDATE (7:00PM EST): Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State and USC have issued separate statements announcing the suspensions of the four assistants charged.