This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department
An Ohio man who defrauded multiple NFL players – including a player for the Kansas City Chiefs – out of nearly $25,000 earmarked for charitable causes, pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Camario A. Richardson, 39, of Maple Heights, Ohio, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of mail fraud.
Richardson claimed to have contacts with Nike and agreed to deliver Nike-branded merchandise to five NFL players. None of the victim players are identified by name in court documents.
The specific charge to which Richardson pleaded guilty involved a Kansas City Chiefs player who paid $6,000 to Richardson to provide 300 Nike-branded backpacks. The backpacks were for a “Book Bag Giveaway” charitable event for children in need of a school backpack at the start of the 2016 school year. Richardson was paid in April 2016, but never delivered any backpacks.
Richardson also admitted that he engaged in the same fraud scheme by taking $17,280 from the players of three other NFL teams, all as payment for backpacks those players planned to give away at similar charitable events. In June 2016, Richardson took $6,480 from a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player and $6,480 from an Indianapolis Colts player, each of whom were promised 300 backpacks that Richardson failed to deliver, and $4,320 from a Cincinnati Bengals player who was promised 200 backpacks that Richardson failed to deliver.
As a result of Richardson’s fraud scheme, all four victim players purchased backpacks from another source for their charitable events.
Richardson also admitted that he engaged in a fraud scheme by taking $1,500 from a San Diego Chargers player in March 2016 for athletic shoes that he failed to provide.
The total fraud loss caused by Richardson’s criminal conduct was $24,780. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Richardson must pay $24,780 in restitution to his victims.
Under federal statutes, Richardson is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Criminal Division Chief Gene Porter. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department.
