Damn, I'm shocked at such a late deal! What NEWS!!!
Monday, July 14, 2003
DETROIT — On the eve of his federal perjury trial, Sacramento Kings (search) star Chris Webber (search) pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of criminal contempt in a deal that is expected to allow him to avoid prison time.
The former Michigan player and his father Mayce Webber Jr. were charged with lying to a federal grand jury about money authorities say the player received from former University of Michigan (search) basketball booster Ed Martin. The maximum penalty on each charge would have been five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Jury selection had been scheduled to begin Tuesday.
In an agreement with prosecutors, Webber is expected to avoid prison time but will face a fine.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds will decide whether the charge is a felony or a misdemeanor. Sentencing was set for Sept. 16.
Charges against Mayce Webber Jr. are expected to be dropped, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino said.
Chris Webber left the courtroom Monday without talking to reporters.
Martin, who died Feb. 14 at age 69, pleaded guilty in May 2002 to conspiracy to launder money. He admitted he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent it to several players while they were in school.
The retired autoworker said he loaned $616,000 to Webber and three other Wolverines players -- Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock -- while they were amateurs. Martin said he gave Webber and his family $280,000 from 1988-93, a period extending from his freshman year in high school through his sophomore season at Michigan.
Webber, who is in the second year of a 7-year, $123-million contract with the Kings, in August 2000 told the grand jury investigating Martin's dealings that he took money from Martin in high school, but could not remember if he took money in college.
Martin's death left federal prosecutors without a person who could provide crucial testimony. Last week, the judge ruled prosecutors could not present key testimony and evidence, including notes kept by Martin that appeared to indicate that Webber borrowed money from him while playing in high school and college.
Prosecutors also were prohibited from calling other players to testify about amounts they said they received from Martin.
Also on Monday, Edmunds ruled sports columnist Mitch Albom would have to testify in Webber's trial.
Webber's defense attorney, Steven Fishman, wanted Edmunds to order the author and Detroit Free Press columnist to testify about what he may have learned through interviews with Webber for his newspaper columns and his 1993 book Fab Five.
The judge said she recognized that a privilege exists for journalists in criminal trials. But she said in this case Albom's own observations, not protected information, are at issue.
The defendants "have clearly and convincingly shown that Albom's testimony is not obtainable from some other neutral witness who had the quantity and quality of personal contact with Chris Webber during the relevant time period," Edmunds wrote.
She granted a motion to authorize a subpoena and compel Albom's testimony.
Monday, July 14, 2003
DETROIT — On the eve of his federal perjury trial, Sacramento Kings (search) star Chris Webber (search) pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of criminal contempt in a deal that is expected to allow him to avoid prison time.
The former Michigan player and his father Mayce Webber Jr. were charged with lying to a federal grand jury about money authorities say the player received from former University of Michigan (search) basketball booster Ed Martin. The maximum penalty on each charge would have been five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Jury selection had been scheduled to begin Tuesday.
In an agreement with prosecutors, Webber is expected to avoid prison time but will face a fine.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds will decide whether the charge is a felony or a misdemeanor. Sentencing was set for Sept. 16.
Charges against Mayce Webber Jr. are expected to be dropped, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino said.
Chris Webber left the courtroom Monday without talking to reporters.
Martin, who died Feb. 14 at age 69, pleaded guilty in May 2002 to conspiracy to launder money. He admitted he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent it to several players while they were in school.
The retired autoworker said he loaned $616,000 to Webber and three other Wolverines players -- Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock -- while they were amateurs. Martin said he gave Webber and his family $280,000 from 1988-93, a period extending from his freshman year in high school through his sophomore season at Michigan.
Webber, who is in the second year of a 7-year, $123-million contract with the Kings, in August 2000 told the grand jury investigating Martin's dealings that he took money from Martin in high school, but could not remember if he took money in college.
Martin's death left federal prosecutors without a person who could provide crucial testimony. Last week, the judge ruled prosecutors could not present key testimony and evidence, including notes kept by Martin that appeared to indicate that Webber borrowed money from him while playing in high school and college.
Prosecutors also were prohibited from calling other players to testify about amounts they said they received from Martin.
Also on Monday, Edmunds ruled sports columnist Mitch Albom would have to testify in Webber's trial.
Webber's defense attorney, Steven Fishman, wanted Edmunds to order the author and Detroit Free Press columnist to testify about what he may have learned through interviews with Webber for his newspaper columns and his 1993 book Fab Five.
The judge said she recognized that a privilege exists for journalists in criminal trials. But she said in this case Albom's own observations, not protected information, are at issue.
The defendants "have clearly and convincingly shown that Albom's testimony is not obtainable from some other neutral witness who had the quantity and quality of personal contact with Chris Webber during the relevant time period," Edmunds wrote.
She granted a motion to authorize a subpoena and compel Albom's testimony.
