Three more former UI athletes plead to underage gambling

IOWA CITY — A former University of Iowa basketball player and two former football players who were charged with tampering with records in the state’s sports betting investigation each have pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of underage gambling in Johnson County Associate District Court.

Ahron Ulis, a former basketball player who transferred to Nebraska earlier this year, admitted in a written plea Friday that he placed bets on sporting events on Feb. 20, 2021, while under the age of 21.

According to a criminal complaint, Ulis used the personal information of his older brother, Anton Porter, to disguise about 1,850 sports wagers. The wagers totaled over $34,800. The complaint stated at least one wager was on an Iowa sporting event, and over 430 were on NCAA-sanctioned football and basketball games.

Harry “Reggie” Bracy, former backup defensive back who transferred to Troy University in Alabama after last season, admitted in a written plea Thursday that he placed bets on sporting events on or about Feb. 3, 2022, while under the age of 21.

He pleaded guilty with the stipulation that Vincent Bruce, who was of legal age to gamble, would not be prosecuted for conduct that Bracy admitted. Bracy placed bets under Vincent Bruce’s DraftKings account, which was also used by former Hawkeye receiver Arland Bruce IV, who The Gazette previously reported admitted to the same charge.

According to the criminal complaint, Bracy made 66 wagers totaling over $715. Bracy bet on two games that he participated in during the 2022 season — the win against South Dakota State and the loss against Michigan, the complaint stated.

Jack Johnson, a walk-on wide receiver who is no longer on the team, admitted in a written plea Thursday he placed bets on sporting events on or about Sept. 3, 2021, while under 21. He pleaded under the stipulation that Jill Johnson would not be prosecuted for any conduct admitted to by him. An Iowa athletics website identifies Jack Johnson’s mother as Jill. According to a criminal complaint, Jack Johnson disguised his identity and made it appear that sports wagers were made by Jill Johnson instead.

He placed 480 sport bets totaling over $2,500, the complaint stated. Four bets were placed on two Iowa football games while he was on the team although he did not appear in the games. He also made about 11 wagers on Iowa basketball games.

According to all three complaints, each wager was “routinely and consistently” placed from a cellphone and were made from “areas of the university not routinely open to the public.”

Sixteen current and former Iowa and Iowa State student-athletes and other individuals have been charged with placing illegal bets in the wake of an investigation announced earlier this year by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

So far, nine of them have pleaded to the lesser charge of underage gambling. That charge carries a $645 fine and no jail sentence, according to court documents. The tampering charge, an aggravated misdemeanor, can be punishable with a sentence of up to two years in jail.