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Back in August, a report came out that there were members of the University of Florida Football Team would be facing “internal punishment over the misuse of school funds”. Today, more news breaks following Gainesville Police Department’s ongoing investigation and it isn’t good for the Gators.
So the nutshell: Players accused of using credit cards that weren't theirs to add $ to bookstore debit accounts. Then bought electronics
— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) September 25, 2017
The nine student-athletes involved are:
- WR Antonio Callaway
- RB Jordan Scarlett
- DE Keivonnis Davis
- DT Richerd Desir-Jones
- LB James Houston IV
- LB Ventrell Miller
- DE Jordan Smith
- WR Rick Wells
- OL Kadeem Telfort
I count 62 potential felony charges w/ the nine #Gators. 6-2. Sixty-two.
— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) September 25, 2017
Not including Jordan Smith and a Gainesville PD case.
According to the sworn complaints, the student-athletes allegedly used stolen credit cards to add money to their University Bookstore accounts and used that money to buy and resell merchandise. The nine student-athletes all allegedly used their UF Bookstore accounts to purchase multiple items, while two of them, Jordan Smith and Kadeem Telfort, are being investigated for other uses as well.
Breakdown of alleged purchases made by eight of nine suspended UF football players at university's official bookstore. #Gators pic.twitter.com/fQAMRAx4Zn
— Dylan Dixon (@dylanrdixon) September 25, 2017
The State Attorney Bill Cervone gave this statement regarding today’s news:
On September 22nd, 2017 our office received sworn complaints regarding a University of Florida Police Department investigation. As with all sworn complaints the case will be reviewed by our office, which includes interviewing witnesses, law enforcement and review of all evidence.
State Attorney Bill Cervone says 7 #Gators could be candidates for pre-trial intervention. All but Telfort and Smith - too many cases
— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) September 25, 2017
It is unknown what Scott Stricklin, Jim McElwain and the rest of the UF Administration will do with this news in the long run, but the UF Athletic Director did offer support of McElwain’s handling of the situation so far.
“We obviously took this matter very seriously as evidence by Coach McElwain’s decision to suspend the players immediately and indefinitely from all team activities. We have respected the appropriate process from the beginning and will continue to do so.”
When asked in the press conference today if the potential felony charges change the status of the suspended players, Coach McElwain responded with an emphatic “you’re darn right!”, leaving media and fans to believe that the coaching staff and administration are taking this new information very seriously. Once the State Attorney decides on how to move forward with the cases, the athletic department will have a better idea on how they should handle each case.
State Attorney Bill Cervone just told me it will be "several weeks" before his office will be done reviewing all information they were given
— Nick de la Torre (@NickdelaTorreGC) September 25, 2017
All nine of the suspended student-athletes vary in age and it will be interesting to see what punishments, if any, are handed down from both the State Attorney and the Florida Athletic Department.