It feels as if the FBI Probe that rocked the NCAA years ago has just never completely ended. Former sports agent Christian Dawkins is now seeking a new trial after an FBI agent pleaded guilty to gambling government money. The center of the bribery ring was convicted on charges in October of 2018 and April of 2019. He is set to begin his prison sentence on Tuesday. This is sure to get messy before it ends.
Christian Dawkins, who was convicted and sentenced for his involvement in a scheme to bribe college basketball coaches to steer players to his management company, is seeking a new trial based on an FBI agent taking government funds during the underlying investigation. pic.twitter.com/dKDs7uHqRd
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) March 1, 2022
FBI agent Scott Carpenter last week pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of conversion of government funds. He gambled $13,500 in government funds in a Las Vegas casino during the key sting operation of the FBI probe into college basketball. Christian Dawkins’ attorney, Steven Haney, is arguing that the FBI agent’s admission of wrongdoing compromised the case and should prompt a new trial.
Attorney Steven Haney filed a motion to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Monday and in it he wrote: “Certainly one would be naive to believe such lack of professional control was limited to ingesting a hot dog and a coke, or playing a penny slot with taxpayer dollars, but despite requests for specifics, the Government steadfastly refused to disclose the breadth of the FBI agents’ gluttony, or provide any information other than vague generalities, which they couched as ‘alleged misconduct.'”
It is unclear where this will go moving forward, but it seems possible that Christian Dawkins will get another trial after this development. The FBI probe seemingly will not go away.
