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Former Cleveland Browns receiver Chansi Stuckey, left, sit on the bench during a 2009 football game. Stuckey is believed to be one of four victims defrauded by an Ohio man charged this week in federal court.

(Plain Dealer file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An Ohio man was charged Wednesday with running a horse racing scheme where several National Football League players -- including three former Cleveland Browns -- lost money.

Jonathan Pippin, 29, of Logan, faces two counts of wire fraud and a money laundering charge. Prosecutors say he ripped off four football players by coaxing them into giving him money to invest in racing horses.

The football players are identified in court filings with their first names and initials. Carlos Warner, Pippin's federal public defender, identified them as former Cleveland Browns players Chansi Stuckey and Reggie Hodges, former Browns and current Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood and current San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead.

Prosecutors say he used investor money for himself and paid his personal expenses, in addition to some operating expenses. According to court filings, this including gambling, strip clubs and the purchase of a Cadillac Escalade.

In all, the investors lost $308,805, court filings say.

Pippin was arrested in California in December. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The charges were filed via a criminal information, which usually means a plea agreement is forthcoming.

Warner said his client has agreed to plead guilty. He said Pippin is very remorseful for his actions and will make full restitution. He said his client is very bright and has a good future ahead of him.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko.

According to court filings:

The U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service and the Northern Ohio Money Laundering Task Force began its investigation into Pippin in 2012 when NFL security told them that players were being defrauded.

Pippin defrauded the players through PJH Horse Racing, a company that he formed in 2011. In 2011 and 2012, he solicited people to invest in PJH under the pretense that he was working with a wealthy businessman and was going to purchase ownership interests from the businessman.

He told investors that they would receive a percentage of the winnings from the horses and that he had "stud rights" to a horse.

In fact, Pippin had no relationship with the businessman, identified as "M.R." To mislead investors, he created a fake email address for "M.R." and would use it to communicate with investors.

When one investor questioned Pippin on this, he claimed the purchase was an "under the table" deal.

Pippin was interviewed in June 2014 and he admitted to stealing money from Hodges and Norwood.

Acting U.S. Attorney Carole Rendon said in a news release that Pippin "created a web of lies to pay for fancy cars, expensive clothes and gambling expenses."

She continued, "he defrauded investors to pay for a lifestyle he couldn't afford. Now he'll be held accountable for his actions."

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