Details proceed to emerge in Iowa concerning a number of collegiate athletes and others who have been allegedly a part of a scheme involving putting unlawful bets and tampering with data to hide their involvement.
The newest information sees Eyioma Uwazurike, a former Iowa State soccer participant, and Paniro Johnson, a present Iowa State wrestler, charged with felony id theft. Both males now resist 5 years in jail they usually’ve pleaded not responsible to the fees.
The allegations present a number of the damaging points concerned with a extra expanded U.S. sports activities betting panorama.
Details On The Case
Uwazurike and Johnson aren’t the one gamers and people charged with comparable crimes. Authorities allege 16 present and former Iowa and Iowa State athletes and others have been concerned. That contains at the very least 5 putting unlawful wagers on video games they performed in, together with Uwazurike.
Drafted in 2022 by the Denver Broncos, Uwazurike performed eight video games final 12 months. However, he’s now been positioned on the “Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner” checklist. Court paperwork allege he made 800 bets totaling greater than $21,000 in 2021-22, together with on two Iowa State video games.
Authorities charged Johnson with making 1,300 bets of greater than $45,000. The two males face the most serious charges of the group whereas a number of the others additionally face NCAA self-discipline.
“The new identity theft charges, filed last week, allege Uwazurike and Johnson fraudulently used another person’s identifying information for their benefit in an amount exceeding $1,500,” The Gazette newspaper of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, notes. “Court records in both men’s cases describe how they allegedly engaged with another individual to create accounts with sports betting companies and then placed bets from those accounts.”
An lawyer for Uwazurike has requested for costs to be dismissed and described them as “a smear campaign to justify a suspect investigation.”
Growing Number Of Sports Betting Scandals
Legalized sports activities betting has swept throughout the nation in recent times and that has confirmed to be a problem at instances for sports activities leagues and authorized authorities. So far this offseason, 10 NFL gamers have been suspended for sports activities wagering-related points.
Once a vocal opponent of sports activities wagering, the NFL has embraced the business in recent times. That has even included naming three betting companions – Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
The rising business has seen tens of millions of {dollars} move into skilled sports activities leagues. That hasn’t been with out controversy. The NFL is now working to better educate players and employees concerning the league’s playing coverage as a part of a brand new directive. That contains rookies viewing a video specializing in sport integrity points.
“It comes back to, in large part, a couple of rules that have existed as long as anybody can remember,” NFL Executive Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs and Policy Jeff Miller informed ESPN. “Don’t bet on the NFL. That’s not new as a result of sports activities playing is extra obtainable. That’s at all times been the case.
“And don’t bet when you’re at work, wherever work happens to be in that moment. That’s existed for a long time.”