Grand jury indicts former NBA player on fraud charges

A former NBA player has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of charity fraud.

Kermit Washington, a National Basketball Players Association representative who is known for punching another player during a game in the 1970s, was arrested Tuesday following the indictment, according to the Department of Justice.

{mosads}Washington is accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, among other charges.

The Justice Department alleges Washington, 64, “used a charity he founded and operated, Project Contact Africa (PCA), to defraud donors.”

According to the DOJ, Washington allegedly solicited donations to his charity by promising that all of the money would fund a clinic in Africa, but then used some of the money on himself to “buy gifts and pay personal expenses, including rent, vacations, jewelry and entertainment.”

“The federal indictment alleges this former NBA player used his celebrity status to exploit the good intentions of those who donated to a charity he founded, called Project Contact Africa,” said U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson.

“Individuals who use charitable organizations to defraud donors and evade tax obligations inflict substantial harm on every U.S. taxpayer and cause untold damage to well-intentioned charitable endeavors,” added Caroline D. Ciraolo, acting assistant attorney general.

Washington will be tried in the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California.