Chargers players part of fraud investigation
Chargers players part of fraud investigation, By: Jay Paris
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official confirmed Tuesday some Chargers are being investigated for potential fraud, after a scheme was uncovered by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
"We received a referral from the DEA relating to possible commercial fraud," Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said.
Mack declined to provide additional details on the ongoing investigation. But the Chargers, according to a Washington Post story which ran Saturday, might be involved in shoe fraud .
DEA officials, the Post reported, grew suspicious when learning Chargers were sending a significant amount of money to China. At first, the DEA suspected they were investigating a steroid-smuggling case, according to Post sources.
But later the focus changed, with the agency speculating the money was for imitation athletic shoes would could be sold as name-brand merchandise in the U.S. Once the steroid angle was removed, the case was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has jurisdiction over such investigations.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith didn't return a phone call Tuesday afternoon seeking comment. Bill Johnston, the Chargers' public relations director, later said no team executive will address the subject.
The NFL didn't immediately return an e-mail requesting comment on the matter.
"I had no idea,'' Chargers center Nick Hardwick said about the allegations. "I don't know anything about that.''
While the first-place Chargers enjoy one of their most successful seasons on the field, they have been embarrassed by a series of off-the field incidents reflecting badly on the organization.
The DEA pulled safety Terrence Kiel from practice earlier this season, charging him with shipping a controlled substance, codeine, to Texas. He has pled not guilty.
The team lost linebacker Steve Foley before the season when he was shot after being confronted by an off-duty Coronado police officer.
More recently, cornerback Cletis Gordon was arrested for driving under the influence and Markus Curry, a member of the practice squad, was jailed on a domestic violence complaint.
