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***UPDATE: Wednesday, 9/27 5:25 p.m.
Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder has released a statement on the allegations.
“I want to reiterate that Oklahoma State University was shocked by the allegations made yesterday against one of our assistant men’s basketball coaches. We learned about the allegations the same way most people did through media reports. The allegations are serious and they violate everything we stand for as an athletic department and university. As we have already stated, we will cooperate with federal officials and coordinate with the NCAA as we move forward with looking into the matter to the fullest extent. Let me underscore, we expect every person affiliated with our athletic program to conduct themselves with integrity and to comply with the rules and the law.”
*END OF UPDATE*
***UPDATE: 2:26 p.m. CST
Lamont Evans has been suspended with pay, according to a press release from Oklahoma State.
“Based on the serious and troubling allegations in the complaint, Oklahoma State University has suspended assistant coach Lamont Evans. We are cooperating with federal officials. We have been in contact with the NCAA and will provide additional information as it become available. OSU takes seriously the high standards of conduct expected in our athletic department and does not tolerate any deviation from those standards.”
Also of note, Evans was not arrested until just a little while ago, Tom Winter, who originally broke the story, reported.
UPDATE: Most of the people in the basketball corruption case were arrested last night or this morning. Lamont Evans just arrested in OKC.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
The final update at this time is that the FBI’s main cooperating witness has been named. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach is reporting that Martin Blazer was the witness.
Martin Blazer, a former Pittsburgh financial adviser, who was accused of swindling $2.35 million from clients, was FBI's cooperating witness pic.twitter.com/egp9gMjEDZ
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) September 26, 2017
*END OF UPDATE*
***UPDATE: 11:00 a.m. CST
Here is the press conference from New York.
Press Conference 9-26-2017Posted by U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, September 26, 2017
*END OF UPDATE*
***UPDATE: 10:33 a.m. CST
Oklahoma State has released a statement on the arrest and charges against Lamont Evans.
“We were surprised to learn this morning of the potential allegations against one of our assistant basketball coaches by federal officials. We are reviewing and investigating the allegations. We are cooperating fully with officials. Let it be clear we take very seriously the high standards of conduct expected in our athletic department. We will not tolerate any deviation from those standards.”
*END OF UPDATE*
***UPDATE: 9:17 a.m. CST
Phil Cross of Fox 25 - KOKH in OKC is reporting that Evans alleged corruption started in South Carolina, but continued at OSU (University-3).
The #OSU coach arrested by FBI is accused of illegal acts that began when he was in South Carolina pic.twitter.com/2VGFLpD4Hf
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) September 26, 2017
Count 2 of federal indictment targets #OSU coach Lamont Evans specifically: pic.twitter.com/VaCJBhYymt
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) September 26, 2017
The federal indictment would indicate that #OKState is "University 3" indicating alleged illegal activity continued at OSU pic.twitter.com/9XuaWphmd2
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) September 26, 2017
Here is a better summary that alleges Lamont Evans' illegal activity continued at #OKState pic.twitter.com/hL4kmLq5Tb
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) September 26, 2017
*END OF UPDATE*
NEW YORK — Ten people were arrested and charges of fraud and corruption were brought against them, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
Oklahoma State Assistant Coach Lamont Evans was one of four assistant coaches arrested. The others were Auburn's Chuck Person, Arizona's Emanuel Richardson and USC's Tony Bland.
BREAKING NEWS / NBC: The FBI has arrested several NCAA asst. basketball coaches in a corruption scheme. Presser @ 12n with U.S. Attorney
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
BREAKING: Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State and Chuck Person of Auburn University are two of the coaches charged in corruption scheme.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 26, 2017
There will be a press conference to officially announce the charges at 11 a.m. CST. It will be livestreamed on Facebook @USAOSDNY.
Stick with Cowboys Ride For Free as we will be updating this story as news becomes available.