Webber's obstruction of justice charges dismissed! Perjury charges stills stand.

[jayC]

Friday, June 13

Perjury charges remain for Webber and father

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Associated Press


DETROIT -- Obstruction of justice charges against Sacramento Kings forward Chris Webber and his father were dropped by federal prosecutors Thursday, but perjury charges against the two still stand.


Webber


Webber, his father, Mayce Webber Jr., and his aunt, Charlene Johnson, were indicted last year and accused of lying to a federal grand jury about money authorities say the player received from former University of Michigan booster Ed Martin, who died Feb. 15.

The charges against Johnson were later dropped.

Michigan's men's basketball program was barred from postseason play in 2004 and put on probation for 3½ years by the NCAA over Martin's payments to players.

The dismissal of the obstruction charge by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Corbett, who heads the Organized Crime Strike Force, came during a hearing on several motions put forward by attorneys for the defendants.

The prosecution put forward the motion largely because the initial indictment had been superceded.

Judge Nancy Edmunds declined motions put forward by Chris Webber's attorney alleging prosecutorial vindictiveness and violations of grand jury secrecy.

Edmunds said her reading of the case law on the matter did not agree with that of the defendants.

"It's always nice to have fewer counts than more counts," Steve Fishman, Chris Webber's attorney, said after the hearing.

The grand jury was investigating an illegal lottery Martin ran at Detroit-area auto plants. Martin, a retired Ford Motor Co. electrician, pleaded guilty last May to using lottery proceeds to lend $616,000 to Webber and three other ex-Michigan basketball players. Martin said he lent $280,000 to Webber.

Webber has denied the charges and denied receiving substantial financial help from Martin.

Fishman had argued in the motions that there is no evidence to support Martin's claim that he gave Webber and his family $280,000. He said the figure comes from a scrap of paper found by FBI agents during a 1999 raid of Martin's house and that it contained Martin's calculations as to what "seven years of his life were worth."

The government has argued that Webber and his family did receive tangible benefits -- namely cash and gifts -- totaling $280,000.

Webber's trial was delayed by one week, to July 15.

[Mandyahl]

bah...i hope webber gets convicted, the criminal!

[mavsfanforever]

I want webber to be in the team when we beat then again. This time 4-0.

[one long blue sock]

If Webber did get convicted, he would fined a new meaning of going to the whole...thanks OP.

[mavsfanforever]

Question for OP or anyone who knows:
Suppose Webber gets convicted , would his salary come off the Cap from Kings.

[Mandyahl]

what exactly is the punishment webber is looking at if convicted?

[Chiwas]

Hope UmOK doesn't defend Webber this time.

If he does it, I'll send him an e-mail with anthrax.

[Ummmmm Ok]

I have never defended Webber, I can't stand the SOB.