The second college basketball corruption trial has reached a verdict as runner Christian Dawkins and former Adidas consultant Merl Code were both found guilty in a New York court on Wednesday.
Dawkins was found guilty on two of six charges he was facing as he’s charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. Code is guilty on one of four initial charges as he was convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery. Both men were already convicted during an October trial for a pay-to-play scheme that helped send elite college basketball recruits to Adidas-sponsored schools. Both men, along with Adidas executive James Gatto, were charged with conspiracy and fraud during the first trial.
This second trial was focused on Dawkins and Code bribing college basketball assistant coaches from high-profile programs to help steer their players towards Dawkins’ new sports management company once the players turned pro. Dawkins was found not guilty on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to violate the travel act. Code was not guilty on bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy to violate the travel act.
Dawkins and Code have been in headlines since the fall of 2017 as the multiple corruption cases and federal probes made national headlines while drawing in some of the biggest programs in college basketball. Now that the third college basketball corruption trial is likely off due to the guilty plea of co-defendant Rashan Michel -- submitted on Tuesday -- this is likely the final trial we’ll see from this scandal for the time being. Sentencing will be the next phase for Dawkins and Code as they await their fates.
Now that the federal trials appear to be complete, the NCAA investigations will likely begin for many of the schools linked to these trials over the past year and a half.
(H/t: Adam Zagoria)