Suspended Florida Players Facing Felony Fraud Charges After Credit Card Misuse
Nine Florida players are facing felony charges after they allegedly used stolen credit card information to make purchases from the university bookstore and elsewhere, including loading school-issued debit cards to buy electronics.
Per Alachua County court records, wide receiver Antonio Callaway and running back Jordan Scarlett are among nine players facing felony charges for fraud. The players were suspended before the team's season-opener against Michigan: Callaway, Scarlett, end Jordan Smith, receiver Rick Wells, defensive lineman Richerd Desir-Jones, linebacker Ventrell Miller, linebacker James Houston, defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis and offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort. All nine players remained suspended, and no arrests are pending at this point. According to Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times, seven of the nine players could be candidates for pre-trial intervention, excluding Smith and Telfort, who face more charges than the other players.
Callaway, who led Florida with 721 receiving yards last season, has been charged with a third-degree felony. Scarlett is facing two third-degree felony charges. The running back rushed for 889 yards a season ago and entered the season as the starter. Smith, who redshirted last season, has been charged with 18 counts of fraud. Telfort, a true freshman, faces 30 charges. The complaints can be read here.
Many of the fraudulent purchases were iPads and laptops bought through the university bookstore at an educationally discounted price. Multiple players told police they had sold the electronics later. Telfort used the information from multiple credit cards to make several food delivery orders through the website 352delivery.com.
Head coach Jim McElwain spoke about the charges at a press conference on Monday.
Florida is 2–1 on the season after a 28–27 win over Kentucky on Saturday. The team announced that quarterback Luke Del Rio, son of Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, would be the starter for next weekend’s game against Vanderbilt after relieving Feleipe Franks early in the second half.
