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Dirty money Allegations link Black to drug dealers
Posted: Thursday March 02, 2000 09:25 PM
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors alleged Thursday that indicted sport agent Tank Black laundered money from drug dealers in Detroit. Prosecutors sought to deny bond for the South Carolina agent pending his trial on criminal money laundering and fraud charges. He is accused of scamming a handful of NFL players out of millions of dollars through ponzi schemes and bogus investments. However, a judge released Black on $1 million bond late Thursday despite strong objections from federal prosecutors. Further spoiling the agent's victory, NBA star Vince Carter suspended his relationship with Black pending the outcome of the criminal money laundering and fraud case. Prosecutors were using an unrelated case to try to prove that Black and his associate, Linda Wilson, are flight risks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Sanford called an IRS criminal investigator to the witness stand and questioned him about a series of alleged transactions among Black and accused and convicted drug traffickers. Sanford also presented evidence that Black might have helped two wanted drug dealers escape to Jamaica in 1998. The allegations Sanford made have nothing to do with the main federal indictment. Black, Wilson and three others are accused of defrauding several former NFL clients, including former Florida stars Fred Taylor, Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. A 20-page indictment, unsealed Tuesday by U.S. Magistrate Gary R. Jones, said Black gained control of money paid to the players by their NFL teams, funneled it into accounts and then used it for his own benefit. The accusations nearly duplicate those levied against Black by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a civil case filed last week. The SEC accused Black of defrauding athletes of $5 million in a period of four years. The criminal case carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison. Black, with the help of runner Alfred Twitty, recruited the players to his agency by offering them money before their college eligibility was complete, the indictment said. Also indicted were Twitty; Black's attorney, Jim Franklin; and employee Lisa Adams. Florida authorities have filed a sworn complaint against Black accusing him of unlicensed agent activity in the state.
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