Officials drop robbery charges against Baker

Attorney for alleged victims arrested on extortion charges.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Former University of Georgia and New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker was cleared of robbery charges on Monday after his alleged victims’ attorney was arrested on extortion charges.

The Broward County State Attorney’s Office announced it was dropping all charges against Baker shortly after the county sheriff ’ s office arrested attorney William Dean, 50, and charged him with extortion.

B a k e r, 2 3 , h a d b e e n charged with holding up four men at gunpoint at a May barbecue in suburban Fort Lauderdale. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who had originally been accused of assisting Baker, had previously been cleared for lack of evidence.

The sheriff ’ s office says Dean told Baker’s attorney,

Bradford Cohen, that the three alleged victims he represented would stop cooperating with prosecutors or change their stories if they were paid $ 266,000 each. Investigators say Dean said his clients would “do anything you want, so long as the money is right.”

Prosecutor Paul R. Valcore said in a statement that the alleged victims’ credibility “is unalterably tarnished,“making the prosecution of Baker i mpossible. I f convicted, Baker faced a minimum of 10 years in prison and could have received life.

Dean was being held Monday pending an initial court hearing. His l aw partner, Michael J. Rotundo, declined comment.

Cohen said he has represented numerous high- profile clients including former basketball star Dennis Rodman and rapper Kodak Black and never had an attorney for an alleged victim approach him with an offer to have his clients stop cooperating with a criminal investigation in exchange for money. Cohen said he never believed Baker robbed the men, all of whom have felony records.

“The fact that they were trying to get my client to pay t hem off speaks f or i t self a b o u t what h a pp e n e d , ” Cohen said.

Baker was a first- round draft pick by the Giants in 2 019. He pl ayed i n al l 1 6 games last season, starting the final 15. He finished with 61 tackles ( 48 solo) and eight passes defensed and was expected to be a starter this year before his arrest.

The NFL placed him on the exempt list in July and he was released by the Giants in September.

The NFL did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday about whether Baker will be reinstated. The Giants’ media r e l a t i o n s o f f i c e d i d n o t answer a phone call.

MARK HUMPHREY/ ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker poses with his new jersey after the Giants selected him in the first round April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Baker, who started 15 games in his rookie season, was released in September.

William Dean is accused of trying to extort money from Baker.