State moves to dismiss charges in sports betting probe against 4 Iowa State athletes
State moves to dismiss all charges against 4 Iowa State student-athletes accused of sports wagering
NEWS, IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. A MONTHS LONG INVESTIGATION INTO SPORTS WAGERING AT IOWA’S UNIVERSITIES APPEARS TO BE OVER. THE STATE IS MOVING TO DISMISS ALL CHARGES AGAINST FOUR FORMER AND CURRENT IOWA STATE STUDENT ATHLETES. KCCI’S KAYLA JAMES JOINS US. AND KAYLA, YOU JUST LEARNED WRESTLER PANERO JOHNSON COULD SOON BE BACK ON THE MAT. LAURA THAT’S RIGHT. NO SPECIFIC TIMELINE, BUT THE ISU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY ARE WORKING WITH JOHNSON TO RESTORE HIS ELIGIBILITY. HE, ALONG WITH JIREHL BROCK, ISAIAH LEE AND WILLIAM UWAZURIKE ARE CHARGED WITH IDENTITY THEFT AND TAMPERING WITH RECORDS. A HEARING TO THOSE TO DISMISS THOSE CHARGES IS SET FOR NEXT TUESDAY. THE STATE’S MOTION COMES DAYS AFTER THE ATTORNEY FOR THE ATHLETES ARGUED DCI AGENTS ILLEGALLY USED GEOFENCING SOFTWARE TO TARGET BETS MADE AT COLLEGE CAMPUSES. ATTORNEY VAN PLUMB CITED LETTERS FROM GEO COMPLY, THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS THAT SHOWED THE COMPANY STOPPED INVESTIGATORS FROM USING THE TECHNOLOGY AFTER LEARNING IT, QUOTE MAY HAVE EXCEEDED THE INTENDED OUTLINED SCOPE. TODAY, THE STATE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT LETTER WRITING DUE TO THIS EVIDENCE, IT NO LONGER BELIEVES FURTHER PROSECUTION IS NECESSARY. IN A STATEMENT, THE DCI CALLED THE PROSECUTIONS DECISION DISAPPOINTING. IT SAID GEO COMPLIES. SPECIFICALLY, TRAINED INVESTIGATORS IN HOW TO USE GEOFENCING. THE DCI SAYS HAD THE SITUATION NOT INVOLVED, COLLEGE ATHLETES, THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION MAY HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. WE’VE REACHED OUT TO ATTORNEY VAN PLUMB, BUT AT THIS TIME HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. AT LEAST 25 IOWA AND IOWA STATE STUDENT ATHLETES WERE CHARGED WHEN THE CASE CAME TO LIGHT LAST AUGUST. ALMOST ALL OF THEM TOOK PLEA DEALS. BROCK AND ISAIAH LEE LEFT THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOLLOWING THESE CHARGES. UWAZURIKE IS A DIFFERENT CASE. THE DEFENSIVE END FOR THE BRONCOS WAS SUSPENDED BY THE NFL LAST JULY. THE NFL TELLS ME HE IS ELIGIBLE TO PETITION FO
State moves to dismiss all charges against 4 Iowa State student-athletes accused of sports wagering
The state is moving to dismiss all charges against four former Iowa State student-athletes after a monthslong investigation into sports wagering involving male athletes at Iowa and Iowa State.More than two dozen players and managers within men's sports programs at Iowa and Iowa State had faced charges. It's unclear if the dismissed charges with impact anything for those who have already taken plea deals.The four former student-athletes — former football players Jirehl Brock, Isaiah Lee and Enyi Uwazurike, and wrestler Paniro Johnson — were charged with identity theft and tampering with records. The state filed Friday to dismiss all of those charges. The hearing is set for next Tuesday. The news comes just one day after an attorney for four former Iowa State student-athletes claimed investigators had been shut out of geofencing software that played a key role in gathering evidence in the case. Lawyers argued the geofence was set up unlawfully, and the athletes had cooperated with a preliminary investigation under a false promise of leniency.The probe headed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation came under public scrutiny in recent months due to the allegations, including an Iowa lawmaker who shared "deep concern" about privacy in the wake of the investigation. The Iowa State University athletics department tells KCCI it is working with Johnson on restoring his eligibility. KCCI reached out to the NFL in regards to Uwazurike, who is a defensive end for the Denver Broncos. The NFL says Uwazurike was suspended last year for betting on NFL g ames in the 2022 season and that he's eligible to petition for reinstatement no earlier than July 24, 2024. » Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI
The state is moving to dismiss all charges against four former Iowa State student-athletes after a monthslong investigation into sports wagering involving male athletes at Iowa and Iowa State.
had faced charges. It's unclear if the dismissed charges with impact anything for those who have already taken plea deals.
The four former student-athletes — former football players Jirehl Brock, Isaiah Lee and Enyi Uwazurike, and wrestler Paniro Johnson — were charged with identity theft and tampering with records. The state filed Friday to dismiss all of those charges. The hearing is set for next Tuesday.
The news comes just one day after an attorney for four former Iowa State student-athletes claimed investigators had been shut out of geofencing software that played a key role in gathering evidence in the case. Lawyers argued the geofence was set up unlawfully, and the athletes had cooperated with a preliminary investigation under a false promise of leniency.
The probe headed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation came under public scrutiny in recent months due to the allegations, including an Iowa lawmaker who shared "deep concern" about privacy in the wake of the investigation.
The Iowa State University athletics department tells KCCI it is working with Johnson on restoring his eligibility.
KCCI reached out to the NFL in regards to Uwazurike, who is a defensive end for the Denver Broncos. The NFL says Uwazurike was suspended last year for betting on NFL g ames in the 2022 season and that he's eligible to petition for reinstatement no earlier than July 24, 2024.
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
