MIAMI – Nevin Shapiro was living large for a decade, partying with famous athletes including Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, but it was the convicted Ponzi schemer's role as a booster for the University of Miami where he really made his mark.
"He spent a lot of money," said Shapiro's attorney, Maria Elena Perez. "I mean, at any given moment, (he) had $40,000, $50,000 in a suitcase for a bookie, for a game, for a player, for whatever."
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The NCAA is investigating allegations that Shapiro gave cash, jewelry, clothing and other gifts to former and current players, as well as team trips to strip clubs and nightclubs, lavish parties with prostitutes for players and even paying for an abortion for a woman who was impregnated by a player. Shapiro named a list of players in the allegations.
"He opened his home to them. He opened his boat to them. He opened his bank account to them. He helped them when they had problems; the abortion is an example. When they needed a suit to go to the Heisman trophy, he bought it for them," Perez said.
"The scope of this is so large. Do you believe that the University of Miami had to know that some of this was going on?" Local 10's Todd Tongen asked Perez.
"I believe the University of Miami had to know some of this was going on," she said. "I know that the coaches definitely knew. There is no conceivable way that Mr. Shannon could not have known."
At this point, former head coach Randy Shannon has not commented on the allegations.
Meanwhile, Shapiro released a statement Wednesday from jail, saying, "I am at peace with myself and my conscience, clear as day, by coming clean and ridding myself of the cancer which once surrounded me."
"As I sit in a dreary, run-down, isolated cell by my lonesome in Atlanta, Ga., I take solace in the fact that I stood in the line of fire and took the government's and media and public's best shot, and I will go to bed at night and sleep as though it never happened," the statement continued.
Shapiro's attorney believes others may be criminally indicted in the future based on Shapiro's out-of-control gambling addiction.
"Nevin did gamble on UM games," Perez said. "I believe the gambling losses totaled $8 million to $9 million."
Implications Reach Beyond UM
The implications of the investigation reach beyond the University of Miami campus to the rest of the college football world and even to the NFL, where some former Hurricanes are playing.
Current Canes players and new head coach Al Golden, who took over the team without knowing of the storm he would face, returned to practice Wednesday. Golden admitted he was blindsided by the news.
"If they knew that this was percolating, I believe they did have the responsibility to tell me," Golden said. "I'm not going to say it's not difficult, but again, I'm standing here in front of you because I'm going to make sure we get it right. I'm going to make sure as quickly as we can get to the bottom of whatever happened."
Twelve current players were named in the allegations, but all 12 practiced Wednesday and remain on the team for now. They include Jacory Harris, Travis Benjamin, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston. Among current NFL players are Vince Wilfork, Jon Beason, Antrel Rolle and Devin Hester.
The shock wave was felt at the Miami Dolphins' practice in Davie on Wednesday, as well. Former UM players including Vernon Carey had to answer questions about Shapiro's allegations.
"It's unfortunate that all of this circles around UM," Carey said.
At other NFL camps, other star players in the Hurricanes family were forced to respond.
"You really can't control what anyone else says. He knows and I know what really happened, but it's over," said Andre Johnson, who played for UM from 2000 to 2002.
"I don't know the guy," said Eric Winston, who played for UM from 2002 to 2005. "I wasn't around him. I couldn't pick him out of a lineup. Heard the name a few times, but like I said, it's not someone that I knew."
The UM basketball team is also tied to the crisis. Former UM basketball coach Frank Haith released a statement that read, in part, "I can confirm that the NCAA has asked to speak with me regarding the time I spent with the University of Miami."
Haith, the current Missouri coach, went on to say, "The reports questioning my personal interactions with Mr. Shapiro are not an accurate portrayal of my character."