Chris Webber indicted on charge of lying

Posted 6:49AM on Tuesday 10th September 2002 ( 22 years ago )

DETROIT - Chris Webber was indicted on charges he lied to a grand jury about his dealings with a University of Michigan booster who admits lending the NBA star $280,000 while he was still an amateur. Webber, who led Michigan's ``Fab Five'' team to two NCAA title games, is in the second year of a $123 million, seven-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. He was charged Monday with obstruction of justice and making a false declaration before a grand jury, according to the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit. Former booster Ed Martin pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to launder money, admitting he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent it to several players while they were still amateurs. Martin, 68, said his payments included $280,000 to Webber; $160,000 to Robert Traylor, now with the New Orleans Hornets; $105,000 to Maurice Taylor, now with the Houston Rockets; and $71,000 to Louis Bullock, who has been playing professionally in Europe. Former Michigan star Jalen Rose, now with the Chicago Bulls, said in May he took ``pocket money'' from Martin. The 29-year-old Webber publicly denied taking significant amounts of money from Martin. The maximum penalty on each charge is five years and a fine of $250,000. There was no immediate comment from Webber. He has no listed telephone number in the Sacramento area. Payments to college players violate NCAA rules. The indictment said Webber, his father and aunt gave false information to the university in its internal investigation and the school forwarded it to the NCAA. Prosecutors, NCAA spokesman Wally Renfro, Kings spokesman Darren May and Michigan athletic director Bill Martin declined comment. The indictment says Webber, his father and his aunt conspired to conceal the cash, checks, clothing, jewelry and other benefits provided to the player and his family by Martin from 1988 to 1993. Webber's father, Mayce Webber Jr., and his aunt, Charlene Johnson, were indicted on the same charges as Webber. Neither immediately returned messages. Traylor and Bullock admitted to the grand jury they received the loans, said their attorney, Steve Fishman. Webber, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward and four-time All-Star, has averaged 22.1 points and 10.2 rebounds during his nine-year career. He was the first pick in the 1993 draft and was rookie of the year with Golden State. He starred at Washington before being traded to the Kings. Webber led Sacramento to the Western Conference finals, where the Kings lost in seven games to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/9/190297