Current Canes Won't Be Called to Court: Expert

12 current Canes admitted to taking gifts from convicted Ponzi schemer

A dozen University of Miami football players have already been punished by the NCAA for accepting cash and gifts from former booster and convicted Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro.

They probably won't face more serious interrogation at the hands a court appointed trustee whose sole purpose is to get back the money Shapiro bilked investors out of, a Miami bankruptcy law expert said Wednesday.

Authorities are still investigating Shapiro, who is serving 20 years in prison for running a $930 million Ponzi scheme. Attorneys want to know where all the money went, and Shapiro has alleged that he spent loads of cash on 72 current and former UM players.

Adding validity to Shapiro's claims is the punishment levied by the NCAA on Tuesday.

Starting quarterback Jacory Harris and 11 other current players admitted to taking impermissible benefits from Shapiro to the NCAA, and are required to pay it back.

Joel Tabas, who is charged with tracking down Shapiro's victim's cash, said Wednesday that he would look at the Canes players on a "case-by-case basis" and that some ex-players could be called in.

But the dollar amounts are so small for the current players, the trustee wouldn't bother asking the student athletes any questions about the gifts, said Thomas Tew, a partner at the Tew Cardenas law firm in downtown Miami.

"Mr. Tabas as an experienced trustee is not going to waste time and money to pursue this," Tew said. "Perhaps to sit down quietly when the matter is resolved and these dollars can be turned over to the trustee if in fact they came from funds from the Ponzi scheme."

Tabas said he has found $19 million of the estimated $82 million the criminal court ordered Shapiro to repay.

Harris, who has been suspended for a game, admitted to accepting $140 in gifts such as admission to clubs and meals. The current player who took the most from Shapiro, defensive end Olivier Vernon, was suspended for six games and must pay back more than $1,200.

In total, the 12 players who were reprimanded by the NCAA and UM received approximately $4,400, not enough to warrant being subpoenaed by the court, Tew said.

But former Canes, many of whom are in the NFL, might not escape a call from Tabas.

In a Yahoo! Sports report, Shapiro alleged he gave New England Patriots defensive lineman and former Cane Vince Wilfork more than $50,000. Shapiro also claimed he gave thousands to Chicago Bear star Devin Hester.

"Past players, if they received anything of benefit, that's up to them," Tew said. "They are out on their own. They are no longer a student. Many of these athletes, if they received anything, I am sure they have good counsel and can respond appropriately."

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