10 charged in college basketball bribery scheme

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges of fraud and corruption against 10 people associated with college basketball, including some coaches. U.S. attorneys say the suspects made and accepted bribes to influence star NCAA athletes to affiliate with certain agents, advisers, and businesses. The probe implicated assistant coaches at Auburn University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Southern California and the director of global sports marketing at athletic shoe and apparel manufacturer Adidas. In one instance, prosecutors said, Adidas and others funneled $100,000 to the family of a high school basketball player to gain his commitment to attend a college sponsored by Adidas and to sign with Adidas once he became a professional. In another case, an assistant coach at the University of Arizona allegedly received $20,000 to convince students to hire a particular manager and financial adviser.