Guilty verdicts set precedent in fighting shady recruiting

A federal jury found three men guilty of fraud charges for channeling secret payment to the families of top-tier recruits to influence their choices of schools, apparel companies and agents.

Wednesday’s verdicts place the blame firmly on the men for exposing the universities to NCAA sanctions, essentially portraying the schools as victims.

The NCAA may view the verdict differently.

In fact, the organization that oversees college athletics may now have a deeper reach when it goes after rogue programs. The decision essentially turns amateurism into federal law, possibly giving future NCAA bylaws more bite and ability to dole out punishment.

“I think anybody who breaks the rules in any aspect of our society, you’d like to see them held accountable,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “If the jury found them guilty of breaking rules, then they should be held accountable. But yeah, that’s why we have a jury system and that’s good. It’s always good when, if someone does something wrong, they’re found out, and they’re held accountable for it.”

Former Adidas executive James Gatto, business manager Christian Dawkins and amateur league director Merl Code were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for funneling money and recruits to Louisville and Kansas. All three will be sentenced on

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — MARK LENNIHAN, FILE Former sports agent Christian Dawkins was found guilty along with Adidas executive Jim Gatto and former Adidas consultant Merl Code of funneling secret payments to families in federal corruption case.