Former Baylor Coach, Assistants Indicted on Mail Fraud Charges

A federal grand jury Thursday indicted fired Baylor basketball coach Darrel Johnson, three former assistants and four others on mail and wire fraud charges.

The indictments came one day after Johnson was fired by school administrators who determined the men’s basketball program had broken school and NCAA rules.

The charges accuse Johnson and assistants Gary Thomas, Kevin Gray and Troy Drummond of conspiring with junior college officials to commit postal and wire fraud to gain eligibility for incoming recruits for the 1993-94 season.

Also indicted were officials at junior colleges in Hillsboro, Tex.; Kansas City, Kan., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The indictment alleges the coaches and college officials conspired to help athletes cheat on correspondence courses at Southeast College of the Assemblies of God in Lakeland, Fla.

Individuals were recruited to provide the students with answers to some final examinations and term papers prepared by others, the indictment alleges. Once the students received their grades, transcripts were sent by mail and fax to and from Baylor.

Sending transcripts via mail or fax containing fraudulent material is illegal.

Johnson could not be reached for comment. David Cherry, his lawyer, said his client has done nothing wrong.