Emanuel “Book” Richardson, the suspended assistant basketball coach at the University of Arizona, appeared in federal court Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors accused Richardson and assistant coaches at other schools of using their positions to influence players to hire certain financial advisors and managers. They also accused them of facilitating bribes to players so they’ll play for the coach’s universities.
At Richardson’s initial appearance Tuesday in a federal court in Manhattan, he had the charges read to him and was released on a $100,000 signature bond. Signature bonds mean the defendant doesn’t have to put up any money.
A preliminary hearing in the case is set for early November.
Richardson’s attorney Craig Mordock said, speaking about his client, “at this point in the process he’s not guilty. And every defendant has that presumption of innocence.”
After Richardson’s arrest, the University of Arizona said it had started the process of dismissing him and that he was relieved of his duties as a Wildcats assistant coach.
