Eight men indicted in college basketball bribery scandal; arraignments set for next week

UPDATE: The men indicted in the college basketball scandal will be arraigned next week in the Southern District of New York. Here’s the schedule:

11/14 at 1030am: Chuck Person and Rashan Michel – Judge Preska

11/15 at 1130am: Lamont Evans, Book Richardson, Tony Bland, Christian Dawkins and Merl Code – Magistrate Court

11/15 at 4pm:  Jim Gatto, Christian Dawkins, Merl Code – Judge Kaplan

 

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — Four college basketball assistant coaches charged in a bribery scheme were among eight people indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in New York City.

The charges and accusations in three indictments largely mirrored the facts found in criminal complaints filed against the men when they were arrested in late September. An indictment, though a procedural step, is a document prosecutors rely upon at trial.

Prosecutors said the men were accused of using bribes to influence star athletes’ choice of schools, shoe sponsors and agents. They face fraud and other charges that carry potential penalties upon conviction of decades in prison.

The assistant coaches charged were Chuck Person, 53, of Auburn, Emanuel “Book” Richardson, 44, of Arizona, Tony Bland, 37, of Southern California and Lamont Evans, 40, of Oklahoma State. After their arrests, Person and Evans were suspended and Bland was placed on administrative leave. Richardson was suspended and is appealing the school’s effort to dismiss him.