Report: FBI agent in college basketball corruption probe accused of misconduct

An undercover agent involved in the FBI's college basketball corruption investigation is accused of misusing government funds, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing "people familiar with the matter."

The agent is alleged to have used government money on beverages, food and gambling, and the Justice Department opened an inquiry into the agent's behavior last year, the report said.

Any finding of wrongdoing involving the agent imperils his input in potential trials related to the case.

From the Wall Street Journal's story:

Starting in the spring of 2017, the FBI agent now under scrutiny spent months undercover in the investigation, posing as a business partner of the government’s lead cooperating witness—Pittsburgh financial adviser Marty Blazer. On July 29, while on an undercover trip to Las Vegas, the agent met in a hotel room with a group including Mr. Blazer, an aspiring sports agent and an assistant coach at the University of Southern California, according to the criminal complaints. Within days of that meeting, the agent abruptly appeared to stop working on the undercover operation, some of the people familiar with the investigation said. His absence was explained to the aspiring sports agent as an overseas trip, according to the complaints last fall.

Two trial dates have been set in the corruption case. Former Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person and former referee and clothing company founder Rashan Michel are due to appear in court on Feb. 4, 2019.

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Six others, including former Adidas executive James Gatto and former travel coach and sports agency employee Christian Dawkins, were charged and indicted.

Dawkins and Gatto are at the center of the FBI's allegations that include Louisville's program.

Former travel basketball program director Brad Augustine and financial adviser Munish Sood were arrested but have not yet been indicted. A judge recently granted an extension in their case, leaving open the possibility of plea deals