Minneapolis basketball fans may have heard that the NBA’s players’ association executive director is coming under fire after a number of missteps were reported in a review that was initiated by the union president.
The report said the executive director not only had poor judgment, but also never had his $3 million contract approved in the proper manner. Since it was not appropriately approved, the NBA can choose whether to keep him or to negotiate updated terms of the contract. While these may be serious missteps on the part of the executive director, they do not constitute criminal activities. While he may have been accused of improperly using funds, the review has found no evidence of criminal activity and, thus, the executive director should not face white-collar criminal charges.
Specifically, it was reported that the executive director improperly used funds of more than $100,000 for committee member gifts, which included a watch for more than $20,000. Travel expenses were also part of the large sums of money spent.
It is true that the executive director did not care if his actions created a sense of impropriety, but just because a situation gives the impression that something is criminal doesn’t mean that it is. Individuals in Minnesota cannot be convicted of white-collar crimes on mere suspicions and feelings; there must be concrete evidence that an individual has stolen money from an employer, for example, to be convicted of a crime.
Though this executive director may not be facing criminal charges, he may wish to speak with a criminal defense attorney to assure that he won’t face any future investigations.
Source: KSTP 5 ABC, “Billy Hunter’s actions deemed wrong, not criminal,” Jan. 18, 2013
If you want to learn more about Minnesota’s white-collar crimes, stop by our Minneapolis embezzlement page.
