Huskies Investigated by the Secret Service : Washington: A school official confirms that alleged cellular phone fraud is the focus of questions.

The Secret Service has questioned University of Washington football players as part of an investigation into cellular phone fraud, school officials confirmed Friday.

According to Seattle-area published reports, at least five Husky players have been questioned regarding their use of cellular phones that had been illegally altered to avoid billing.

The matter is the latest off-the-field problem for the Washington football program, which has seen its image tarnished by the arrest of a player on cocaine-selling charges and published reports alleging violations of NCAA rules.

Michael Shanahan, campus police chief at Washington, said Friday that his office has been assisting the Secret Service. Shanahan said the investigation has been “ongoing for some time.”

Patrick Sullivan, assistant special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Seattle office, confirmed that his office is participating in a nationwide crackdown on cellular phone fraud. He would not, however, confirm or deny that Washington players have been questioned.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, quoting unidentified sources, reported Friday that Secret Service agents have interviewed Husky Coach Don James and several players as part of the investigation.

According to the newspaper, James confronted the players after being contacted by the Secret Service early this season, a year after the phones in question were last used.

The Tacoma News Tribune, quoting an unidentified source familiar with the case, reported that four or five players were interviewed by the Secret Service in October.

Fullback Darius Turner acknowledged in an interview with the News Tribune that he was one of the players interviewed.

Turner, a graduate of Warren High in Downey, told the newspaper that he was given an altered cellular phone two years ago by “this girl I knew.” He declined to identify the woman.

Turner said he has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony.

The player’s father, Peter Turner, told The Times on Friday that his son obtained the phone early in the 1991 season.

The elder Turner, a former Los Angeles police officer, said he became suspicious after a conversation he had that season with Matt Simon, then a Washington assistant coach.

“(Simon) said, ‘Do you know that Darius has a cellular phone?’ ” Turner said, adding, “I said, ‘No.’

“Then I spoke to Darius, and he told me this girl had given him and quite a few other players some phones.”

Peter Turner said he ordered his son to return the phone to the woman and presumes that he did.