Nevin Shapiro is cooperating with the NCAA regarding potential rules violations by University of Miami football players, his lawyer Maria Elena Perez confirmed to USA TODAY.

Shapiro is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted of running nearly a $1 billion ponzi scheme. He admitted to defrauding investors of between $50 million and $100 million and was forced to pay $82.5 million in restitution.

Perez said that an investigation of Shapiro's finances revealed information about his involvement with Miami players that triggered the NCAA investigation.

She told USA TODAY she was not at liberty to discuss details of Shapiro's activities, citing the federal investigation into his finances.

Perez, according to The Associated Press, said Shapiro provided players with the use of a yacht and other favors during the course of several years.

Larry Coker, who was coach of Miami from 2001-06, said he was aware of Shapiro during his tenure, but did not know of any rules violations.

"If he walked up to me right now I wouldn't know it," Coker, now the coach at Texas-San Antonio, told ESPN. "He was 'around the program.' I certainly wasn't aware of any improprieties. Now, when you look at college athletics today, would it surprise me if somebody gave gifts to players? No, it wouldn't."

According to records obtained by The Miami Herald, Shapiro donated $143,550 to Miami and had a student lounge at the school named after him. His name was taken off the lounge after his arrest in 2010.

Perez said she could not confirm whether the NCAA was visiting Miami on Monday, which is being reported by multiple outlets.

Miami has not responded to an email inquiry about whether the NCAA was on campus.

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