Sports agent Norby Walters was a victim...

Sports agent Norby Walters was a victim of “poisonous innuendo” and broke no laws, a defense attorney said in his summation. But a federal prosecutor argued in Chicago that Walters and associate Lloyd Bloom had perpetrated fraud.

Jurors were to begin deliberating the fate of Walters and Bloom today after receiving instructions from U.S. District Judge George Marovich.

“This has been about fraud from day one and it will be about fraud when you go back to that jury room,” U.S Attorney Anton Valukas told jurors in his closing arguments.

Walters, 58, and Bloom, 29, were charged with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and racketeering, accused of luring dozens of college athletes with cash and other gifts to sign contracts with them in violation of National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules, then using threats to keep the athletes in line.

“Mr. Walters may have violated NCAA rules but he never violated for an instant any law,” said Walters’ attorney, Robert Gold.