Rick Pitino is under FBI investigation for his role in corruption case
Source: Washington Post
Rick Pitino is under FBI investigation for his role in corruption case
By Will Hobson and Devlin Barrett September 28 at 5:54 PM
Ousted Louisville mens basketball coach Rick Pitino is under investigation on allegations he was involved in a scheme to use money from Adidas to bribe high school recruits to attend the school, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation.
In a complaint unsealed in federal court in New York City on Tuesday as part of a wide-ranging probe of corruption in college basketball, Pitino is referred to as Coach-2 and is described as having significant sway at Adidas. According to phone records reviewed by the FBI described in the complaint, Pitino made three phone calls to Adidas executive Jim Gatto in late May and early June, days before a highly touted recruit made a surprise decision to attend Louisville.
Gatto was among 10 men arrested Tuesday on charges that include money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. Prosecutors allege Gatto arranged for a $100,000 bribe for the family of Brian Bowen, the former Indiana high school basketball star who made the surprise last-second decision to commit to Louisville this summer.
Pitinos attorney, Stephen Pence, denied that Pitino was involved in arranging any illicit payments for recruits. Pence would not confirm or deny that Pitino is under investigation.
Were cooperating, and well continue to cooperate with the U.S. attorneys on this, Pence said. The coach did not participate in any way in trying to funnel money to any recruit.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/rick-pitino-is-under-fbi-investigation-for-his-role-in-corruption-case/2017/09/28/6cd0312e-a485-11e7-b14f-f41773cd5a14_story.html