2008 Woodie Awards
Barton road trip ends with tie, loss
Erinn Abernathy
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Front Page
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A federal investigation into academic integrity and financial aid fraud in the athletics department at Barton County Community College has led to the convictions or pleas of the former athletic director and seven coaches. Four of the seven coaches involved in the investigation were sentenced in federal court Oct. 2.
Former basketball coach Ryan Cross and former athletic director Neil Elliott were both sentenced to four months in federal prison, followed by three years of probation. Cross, 33, pleaded guilty to one count wire fraud for his part in a scheme to defraud the University of Cincinnati of the services of basketball player Kareem Johnson, who lacked the necessary college credits to transfer to the university. Elliott, 42, pleaded guilty to mail fraud for a scheme to get a medical hardship ruling for a basketball player who was not entitled to it, in order for the athlete to play basketball for an extra year.
Former track coach Lyles Lashley was sentenced to three years of probation plus 12 weekends in the county jail, and was ordered to help repay nearly $19,000 in restitution. Lashley pleaded guilty to one count of theft of programs receiving federal funds.
Former track coach Lance Brauman was given a year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of probation. In addition, he was also ordered to help Lashley pay nearly $19,000 in restitution. Brauman was the only coach to stand trial in the investigation. A jury convicted him in July of one count of embezzlement, one count of theft, and three counts of mail fraud for using a federal work-study program and campus jobs to get around a conference ban of giving athletes full scholarships and causing false academic credentials to be sent to the University of Arkansas on an athlete's behalf. Brauman, Lashley, Elliott, and Cross were sentenced in federal court Oct. 2.
Former assistant basketball coach Matthew B. Skillman, former basketball coach David "Soupy" Campbell, former assistant basketball coach Shane Hawkins and former basketball coach Ryan Wolf are all serving probation after entering guilty pleas earlier this year.
Former basketball coach Ryan Cross and former athletic director Neil Elliott were both sentenced to four months in federal prison, followed by three years of probation. Cross, 33, pleaded guilty to one count wire fraud for his part in a scheme to defraud the University of Cincinnati of the services of basketball player Kareem Johnson, who lacked the necessary college credits to transfer to the university. Elliott, 42, pleaded guilty to mail fraud for a scheme to get a medical hardship ruling for a basketball player who was not entitled to it, in order for the athlete to play basketball for an extra year.
Former track coach Lyles Lashley was sentenced to three years of probation plus 12 weekends in the county jail, and was ordered to help repay nearly $19,000 in restitution. Lashley pleaded guilty to one count of theft of programs receiving federal funds.
Former track coach Lance Brauman was given a year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of probation. In addition, he was also ordered to help Lashley pay nearly $19,000 in restitution. Brauman was the only coach to stand trial in the investigation. A jury convicted him in July of one count of embezzlement, one count of theft, and three counts of mail fraud for using a federal work-study program and campus jobs to get around a conference ban of giving athletes full scholarships and causing false academic credentials to be sent to the University of Arkansas on an athlete's behalf. Brauman, Lashley, Elliott, and Cross were sentenced in federal court Oct. 2.
Former assistant basketball coach Matthew B. Skillman, former basketball coach David "Soupy" Campbell, former assistant basketball coach Shane Hawkins and former basketball coach Ryan Wolf are all serving probation after entering guilty pleas earlier this year.
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