THE ED MARTIN SCANDAL CASE CLOSED? Martin Pleads Guilty, Three of Four ‘U’ Players Will Disclose Everything Did Not Pay Back Martin by J
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6 — The Michigan Daily — Thursday, May 30, 2002 THE ED MARTIN SCANDAL CASE CLOSED? Martin pleads guilty, Three of four ‘U’ players will disclose everything did not pay back Martin By J. Brady McCollough attempting to pay back the loan, but he By J. Brady McCollough that Martin would definitely meet Daily Sports Editor would not disclose which player. Daily Sports Editor with University officials prior to his “He put food on (the players’) table, Aug. 29 sentencing date. DETROIT — The floodgates have clothing on their backs,” Lord said. DETROIT — Banned Michigan The Michigan basketball program, opened wide on the Michigan basket- “We’re going to find out that these kids basketball booster Ed Martin broke which has been under the NCAA’s ball program. turned their back on him. Shame on more than a decade’s worth of microscope since March 1996, could Ed Martin, who is known throughout them. When he needed food on his silence Tuesday when he admitted receive probation, television and southeastern Michigan as a “basketball table, three of four turned their back.” his guilt for the first time in front of tournament bans or scholarship junkie,” confirmed Tuesday that he was “He doesn’t have enough money to U.S. District Court Judge Robert restrictions, depending on how the involved in a conspiracy that made buy food through the month of May. Cleland. NCAA views Martin’s testimony. money from an illegal gambling con- The money from the illegal gambling Martin, a retired Ford autoworker “We have always been interested in spiracy and laundered it to former business was never used for his bene- who has spent the last three years finding out the truth with the case Michigan basketball players Chris Web- fit,” he added. under federal investigation for laun- surrounding Ed Martin,” Athletic ber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Martin confirmed the allegation that dering money from an illegal gam- Director Bill Martin said. “(Tues- Louis Bullock to conceal substantial from 1988 to 1993, he gave Webber, the bling conspiracy, accepted a plea day’s) plea bargain is a step in that amounts of cash. The loans were kept star of the “Fab Five,” and his family bargain and avoided a trial that was direction. We hope to have the oppor- secret by the players and their families. approximately $280,000. The 68-year- originally scheduled for June 17. tunity very soon to sit down and Although Martin admitted the bulk old said he paid for Webber’s rent while By accepting the plea bargain speak with Mr. Martin, so we will be of the loans were from illegal sources, at the University, hotel rooms, food and negotiated by Assistant U.S. Attorney able to bring this matter to a close.” Martin did say that some of the money “things along that line.” Webber, who Rick Convertino and Martin’s Mitchell said that a big factor in was legitimately earned. now plays a starring role for the NBA’s lawyer, William Mitchell, Martin his client’s decision to plead guilty Attorney Gregory Fisher Lord, who Sacramento Kings, told The Sacramen- gave up his constitutional rights and — a decision that Martin neglected represented Martin’s wife, Hilda, said to Bee earlier this month that $200,000 will be forced to disclose all infor- to make the last time he was given that a third party, now deceased, also was a “crazy” amount. mation regarding his illegal gam- the chance in May 2000 — was that FILE PHOTO gave Ed Martin money to loan the play- Martin also admitted that he gave bling conspiracy as well as the depth the charges of conspiracy against his Former Wolverine Robert Traylor celebrates with his teammates after Michigan’s ers. Lord said that the third party had no similar gifts to the other three players Big Ten Tournament Championship victory in 1998. of his involvement with former wife would be dropped. Martin, who affiliation with the University and was and confirmed the alleged totals given Michigan basketball players Chris was originally charged on eight viction that Martin agreed to could As Cleland put it, the “rosiest” sit- just interested in helping out Ed Martin. to the other players — $160,000 to Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice counts, including conspiracy to laun- have entailed a maximum sentence uation for Martin would be that his Both Martin and the third party were Traylor, $105,000 to Taylor and Taylor and Louis Bullock from 1988 der money, three counts of launder- of 20 years in prison and a fine of up testimony was so helpful to the gov- expecting the players to pay them back $71,000 to Bullock. to 1999. ing money, two counts of using to $1.2 million. ernment that it would request he be once they made it to the NBA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Con- “We’re happy to resolve this,” money for illegal gambling activities Convertino said that Martin’s given just probation and no impris- Traylor’s attorney, Steven Fishman, vertino did not comment on whether or Mitchell said. “It’s been a long haul. and one count of having an illegal health may play a factor in the length onment. said that his client began to pay Martin not the players would have charges filed A lot has been said that is true, and a gambling business, had all counts of his sentence because Martin told In court, Martin said he was con- back in increments, but once the federal against them. lot has been said that is not true.” dismissed except “conspiracy to Cleland that he was taking medica- vinced that scenario will eventually investigation began, Fishman advised When asked if he had a message to Martin confirmed the alleged launder monetary investments.” tion for high cholesterol and high play out, insisting, “Yes, sir, it will,” Traylor not to pay anymore money back. relay to the University, Ed Martin totals given to the players — The government decided to allow blood pressure. as Cleland explained to him the pos- “Under the government’s theory, we responded with a simple “Go Blue.” $280,000 to Webber, $160,000 to Martin to keep his house near the Cleland indicated that while the sibility of not receiving jail time. were aware that Martin’s money came “I love the University of Michigan,” Traylor, $105,000 to Taylor and Detroit Golf Club, but in order to do two sides came up with an accurate But Cleland said Martin’s response from illegal activity, and (Traylor) could Martin said. “They did nothing wrong.” $71,000 to Bullock, who was the last so, the 68-year-old must forfeit guess of a proper sentence, he would is only a “hopeful prediction.” be viewed as a conspirator to money Lord and Martin’s attorney, William player to receive help from Martin. approximately $27,000 in cash. He wait to see how beneficial the infor- Mitchell said his client understood laundering,” Fishman said. Mitchell, indicated that there are proba- As part of the agreement, Martin will remain free on a $10,000 unse- mation Martin reveals is for the the possibility of receiving jail time, Fishman added that Bullock, who is bly many more kids in the Detroit area will be required to cooperate with cured bond. investigation. Once Cleland makes but he is remaining optimistic. also his client, did not have the money that Martin helped in the same way as the government, University officials As part of the plea bargain, Mar- his decision, both sides are free to “My client knows what he did and to pay Martin back until he signed his the Michigan players. and could even be subjected to lie tin faces a probable sentence of 30 to appeal if they are unhappy with the what he didn’t do,” Mitchell said. pro contract to play in Europe, which “(He may have helped) even thou- detector tests. 37 months, but Cleland made it clear sentence. “(Ed and Hilda) have been painted as was after the investigation had already sands,” Mitchell said. “If there was a A time has not yet been set for during the meeting that he has the “I don’t know what to expect. We Bonnie and Clyde, and that’s wrong.” begun. kid who didn’t have shoes, he’d give Martin to meet with officials from ultimate hand in what sentence Mar- hope for the best,” Mitchell said. “I — Daily News Editor Maria Sprow Lord said that just one of the four them shoes. He’d sacrifice his own fam- the University, but Convertino said tin will serve. The conspiracy con- believe (Cleland) will be fair.” contributed to this report. players held up his end of the deal, ily for the kids.” ‘U’ will not focus on players or loans By J. Brady McCollough tion, television and postseason bans or scholarship Krislov was quick to point out that the University Daily Sports Editor reductions, depending on what the University “is not there yet.” uncovers in its investigation. The NCAA has a Michigan coach Tommy Amaker’s plan to four-year statute of limitations on infractions but rebuild the basketball program could take a major could reopen the case if certain conditions are Caught red-handed nosedive before it even gets off the ground. present, even though the majority of Martin’s Michigan may face NCAA sanctions as a result That is if Ed Martin’s upcoming meetings with loans were given to players more than four years of the Ed Martin scandal. Here’s a look at some the University produce enough information for the ago.