Shabazz Muhammad’s dad indicted on federal fraud and conspiracy charges
As Shabazz Muhammad stands on the verge of achieving his lifelong dream of becoming an NBA lottery pick, the man who helped mold the former UCLA star into a pro prospect is unable to enjoy the final steps of the process with him.
Ron Holmes, Muhammad's father, has been indicted on federal bank fraud and conspiracy charges and is currently being detained in Las Vegas pending a detention hearing, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported Thursday night. The U.S. attorney’s office is seeking to recover $2.5 million from Holmes and several associates, each of whom allegedly obtained loans to buy houses from 2006 to 2009 by fraudulent means.
The charges against Holmes can't be considered too shocking since this isn't his first brush with the law. In a case that bears remarkable similarities to the current charges, Holmes was sentenced to six months house arrest in 2000 for fraud involving multiple mortgages in the Los Angeles area.
Beyond that, Holmes has a checkered reputation in basketball circles.
The NCAA thoroughly investigated the family last year prior to Muhammad debuting at UCLA because of money the family accepted from several financial advisers. The Los Angeles Times also revealed in March that Muhammad was a year older than Holmes initially claimed, an accusation Holmes initially denied before later offering reporter Ken Bensinger a job in return for not reporting the information.
"Bazz is going to blow up in the NBA lets team up and blow this thing up!!!" Holmes texted, according to Bensinger. "I'm going to need a publicist anyway why shouldn't it be you. We can do some big things together."
Muhammad may do big things, but right now his father isn't helping. The ex-UCLA star left college after one season and will likely be selected in the lottery later this month.
