Kawhi Leonard Saga Enters Uncharted Territory With Federal Probe
News of the probe comes a week after the NBA announced its punishment.
The NBA investigation into alleged salary-cap violations involving Kawhi Leonard has caught the attention of federal prosecutors, according to reports from the New York Times. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a preliminary probe into the situation, which is being led by the Eastern District of New York. The law firm Wachtell Lipton found the issues extended beyond a failed environmental start-up Aspiration, revealing the Clippers used four companies to route payments to Leonard off the books.
The NBA imposed significant penalties on the Clippers, including a year-long ban for owner Steve Ballmer and a $30 million fine. However, Leonard received a lighter $700,000 fine. Federal prosecutors may have a harder time charging Leonard due to the layers between him and the alleged underlying conduct. Instead, his uncle, Dennis Robertson, and his former agent, Mitch Frankel, may face more culpability.
Federal investigators typically start by seeking voluntary cooperation and documents before escalating to a grand jury and potentially an indictment.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
