Four assistant basketball coaches from major NCAA programs were arrested late Monday on charges of fraud and corruption, CBS Sports reported, citing the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
A news conference is scheduled for noon Tuesday to discuss charges against Arizona's Emanuel "Book" Richardson, Auburn's Chuck Person, Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans, and Southern California's Tony Bland, the outlet reported.
The four assistant coaches were among 10 charged in federal court; the others rounded up are managers, financial advisers and representatives of a major international sportswear company.
Prosecutors said the FBI has been investigating the "criminal influence of money on charges and student-athletes who participate in intercollegiate basketball governed by the NCAA," ESPN reported, citing court documents.
The prosecutors added that the probe revealed bribes paid by athlete advisers — including financial advisers and associate basketball coaches — to assistant and associate basketball coaches to exert influence over student athletes, ESPN said.
More from CBS Sports:
Jim Gatto, director of global sports marketing for Adidas Basketball, was among those arrested. He's accused of helping funnel approximately $100,000 to the family of an "All-American high school basketball player" to secure the prospect's commitment to a school Adidas sponsors. According to documents, the prospect committed in June. The only "All-American high school basketball player" who committed to a school Adidas sponsors in June is Brian Bowen. He's now enrolled at Louisville.
