'Tank' Black Saga Could Force NFL Players to Testify
Associates plea not guilty to fraud, money laundering
James Franklin and Alfred Twitty were released following a brief arraignment in the federal case. Franklin is the general counsel and chief operating officer for Black's agent business and Twitty is a Tampa "runner" for Black. Twitty helped Black recruit players and has also been accused of illegal agent activity along with Black in a separate state case. They are only two of four associates indicted. Also indicted are Linda Wilson and Lisa Adams, as well as Black. All five defendants face prison sentences of up to 25 years if convicted. All have pleaded not guilty.
In the federal indictment, the government accused Twitty of paying former Florida players Ike Hillard, Jacquez Green and Fred Taylor before their eligibility had expired as a way of assuring they would sign with Black after their graduation. Once the players were professional, Black and Franklin then fraudulently took money from the players through a series of transactions that steered money through foreign bank accounts and bogus investments, according to the indictments. The Securities and Exchange Commission estimates that the men have cheated at least two dozen professional athletes out of about $5.5 million.
The SEC got a restraining order freezing the assets of Black, Franklin and their South Carolina based sports management firm, Professional Management Inc.
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