BillsFever
06-26-2003, 10:17 PM
LAS VEGAS -- Students and athletes at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas could face fraud charges after using a university phone number without permission and racking up more than $10,000 in telephone calls, UNLV Police Chief Jose Elique said Thursday.
Elique said the investigation is almost completed, and he soon plans to turn over the "priority case" to the Clark County District Attorney's Office, which will decide whether charges are warranted.
"It should come to some sort of conclusion next week," Elique said.
UNLV police opened the investigation April 28 after reviewing bills that included unusual long-distance telephone charges. Authorities said some 200 students and about a dozen athletes used a personal identification number issued to the athletic department to make the calls.
Elique said the athletes include football and basketball players.
The police chief said thousands of calls were placed, totaling more than $10,000 in unauthorized bills. He said those involved could face felony charges, depending on the dollar amount of the calls they made.
Jerry Koloskie, UNLV senior associate athletic director, confirmed Thursday that the PIN number belonged to John M. Jackson, an assistant football coach.
"He didn't give it away," Koloskie said. "It was taken. I don't think they have determined how it was taken."
Koloskie said that he was waiting for UNLV police to finish the investigation before taking action. Once the athletes who used the PIN number are identified, Koloskie said the violations will be reported to the NCAA. The NCAA has not been contacted, he said.
Koloskie said athletes involved in the case could serve one-game suspensions according to university rules. The athletes also would be required to reimburse the university.
Koloskie did not name the players.
"We are waiting on the phone records and we have to determine what athletes were involved," he said.
http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0626/1573313.html
Elique said the investigation is almost completed, and he soon plans to turn over the "priority case" to the Clark County District Attorney's Office, which will decide whether charges are warranted.
"It should come to some sort of conclusion next week," Elique said.
UNLV police opened the investigation April 28 after reviewing bills that included unusual long-distance telephone charges. Authorities said some 200 students and about a dozen athletes used a personal identification number issued to the athletic department to make the calls.
Elique said the athletes include football and basketball players.
The police chief said thousands of calls were placed, totaling more than $10,000 in unauthorized bills. He said those involved could face felony charges, depending on the dollar amount of the calls they made.
Jerry Koloskie, UNLV senior associate athletic director, confirmed Thursday that the PIN number belonged to John M. Jackson, an assistant football coach.
"He didn't give it away," Koloskie said. "It was taken. I don't think they have determined how it was taken."
Koloskie said that he was waiting for UNLV police to finish the investigation before taking action. Once the athletes who used the PIN number are identified, Koloskie said the violations will be reported to the NCAA. The NCAA has not been contacted, he said.
Koloskie said athletes involved in the case could serve one-game suspensions according to university rules. The athletes also would be required to reimburse the university.
Koloskie did not name the players.
"We are waiting on the phone records and we have to determine what athletes were involved," he said.
http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0626/1573313.html