The FBI has arrested several NCAA assistant basketball coaches, multiple outlets reported.
Charges of fraud and corruption included assistant coaches at Arizona coach Emanuel Richardson, Oklahoma State coach Lamont Evans, Auburn coach Chuck Person and USC coach Tony Bland, according to reports.
USC men's basketball coach Tony Bland's story hits close to Las Vegas. He was caught in a sting that involved him taking $13K from an undercover FBI agent.
Included in the FBI's formal complaint is allegation that Tony Bland received a $13,000 payment in Las Vegas this summer: pic.twitter.com/ocXktiChkQ
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) September 26, 2017
The arrests also include representatives from Adidas and Nike, ESPN reported.
BREAKING NEWS / NBC: The FBI has arrested several NCAA asst. basketball coaches in a corruption scheme. Presser @ 12n with U.S. Attorney
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
BREAKING: Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State and Chuck Person of Auburn University are two of the coaches charged in corruption scheme.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
BREAKING MORE: Emanuel Richardson of Arizona is also a coach who has been charged in the corruption scheme according to court docs.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
MORE: The fourth coach charged in the scheme announced by the U.S. Attorney's office is Tony Bland of USC
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
Adidas director of global sports marketing for basketball Jim Gatto and Merl Code, the head of Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League also were named, according to Business Insider.
They have been charged with "making and concealing bribe payments" to high school athletes and/or their families, according to Business Insider.
"Today, we became aware that federal investigators arrested an Adidas employee," Adidas said in a statement to NBC News. "We’re unaware of any misconduct and will fully cooperate with authorities to understand more."
The coaches are accused of taking cash bribes for delivering star athletes to a financial adviser or agent.
According to NBC, some of the defendants are accused of paying a high school player in order for him to play at Louisville.
NEW: Several defendants are accused of facilitating payments to a high school player in order for him to play at University of Louisville. https://t.co/1lFKOybrBx
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
The NCAA was not aware of the investigation, according to CBS Sports' Seth Davis.
Investigation was covert until this morning. NCAA was not aware.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 26, 2017
