Piggie Charged With Fraud

In another twist to an already unusual story, a former AAU basketball coach was charged Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., with defrauding UCLA and three other schools because he sent them players who rightfully should have been ineligible.

The 11-count federal indictment against Myron Piggie, one of the central figures in the case that led to the suspension of UCLA’s JaRon Rush for 24 games, was returned Wednesday and unsealed Thursday. Piggie was being held without bond until a detention hearing Monday and faces up to 49 years in prison without parole. He also could be fined up to $1.85 million.

The charges include mail fraud, wire fraud, failure to file a federal income tax return and interstate transport of fraudulently obtained funds. Piggie, who was convicted on a felony drug charge in 1998, also was charged with illegal possession of a firearm.

The indictment also claims that UCLA, Duke, Missouri and Oklahoma State, and their respective conferences and the NCAA, were defrauded because they were denied the services of the players while they were suspended and because the players illegally obtained scholarships.

Authorities said Piggie paid Rush $17,000, his younger brother Kareem Rush of Missouri $2,300, Corey Maggette of Duke $2,000, Andre Williams of Oklahoma State $250 and Korleone Young, who did not play in college, $14,000.

Piggie is alleged to have expected part of their professional salaries and endorsement income in return.