FBI agent in NCAA probe was removed from case due to alleged illegal activity

One of the FBI agents whose undercover work helped lead to the arrests of 10 people in relation to a widespread probe into corruption in college basketball was removed from the case due to accusations of illegal activity during the operation, court documents obtained by SI's Jake Fischer and Jon Wertheim indicate.

The agent, who posed undercover as an investor named Jeff DeAngelo, stands accused by the government of misappropriating investigative funds earmarked for the operation and spending the money on gambling, food, and beverages.

The agent's real name is not given. However, SI detailed a series of meetings between the man, another FBI agent, and former sports agency runner Christian Dawkins, who was arrested in the probe and now faces charges of wire fraud, bribery, and money-laundering conspiracy.

According to the criminal complaint, the FBI agents also provided the money that Dawkins paid to coaches, which is one of the central violations of NCAA rules. This allegedly included $13,000 in an envelope that Dawkins gave to then-USC assistant Tony Bland - also charged in the probe - during an AAU tournament in Las Vegas.