Feds Say Ex-NBA Star Tipped Off Drug Kingpin
Former NBA player Jerome “Pooh” Richardson passed along a tip from a police officer friend that federal agents were about to raid the home his half-sister shared with a drug kingpin, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Richardson, 43, is not charged in the indictment, which accuses only the Philadelphia detective with criminal wrongdoing. The officer, Rickie Durham, is a longtime friend of Richardson’s who received a car, event tickets and other expensive gifts from the athlete over the years, the document said.
Prosecutors declined to say whether Richardson is cooperating or whether he broke the law in relaying the tip.
His alleged 3 a.m. phone call to Asya Richardson and drug kingpin Alton “Ace Capone” Coles prompted Coles to make a flurry of calls hours ahead of the huge two-state raid on Aug. 10, 2005. Police nonetheless recovered more than $500,000 in cash, 10 guns and 450 grams of cocaine in searches of the couple’s Mullica Hill, N.J., home and other properties linked to Coles’ group.
The indictment refers to Richardson as “J.R. Jr.” FBI spokesman Frank Burton Jr. confirmed the reference is to Richardson. It was not clear if Richardson had a lawyer representing him in the case, and a telephone listing for him could not be determined Wednesday.
Durham, also 43, was one of about 250 officers who gathered at 2:30 a.m. that morning in 2005 for the takedown, preparing to search 23 properties and 11 vehicles in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Months earlier, Durham had called Richardson, a Philadelphia native who lived in Los Angeles, to report that half-sister Asya Richardson was dating a drug dealer. In the Aug. 10 call, he allegedly told his friend, “We’re going to take her down too.”
Durham called on his FBI-issued cell phone, authorities said. After a grand jury probe was under way, he told authorities he had been trying to aid the investigation by getting Asya Richardson’s phone number, the indictment said.
Coles was convicted last year of running a violent drug enterprise and is serving a life sentence. Asya Richardson was convicted of money laundering but remains free pending her sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bresnick said that Durham’s tip could have cost officers their lives.
“It could have been tragic,” he said.
He will seek to detain Durham at a hearing Thursday, the same day Durham’s lawyer expects him to be terminated from the Philadelphia Police Department.
“He’s not the corrupt cop they make him out to be,” defense lawyer Fortunato N. Perri Jr. said after his client’s brief initial appearance before a judge. Durham plans to fight the charges, he said.
Richardson, a first-round draft choice out of UCLA in 1989, spent more than a decade in the NBA, playing for Minnesota, Indiana and the Los Angeles Clippers.
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QG_STEW6-25-2009 7:08 am
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devten716-19-2009 5:32 pm
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poloking696-19-2009 3:13 pm
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Moment6-19-2009 2:02 pm
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Oriedo6-19-2009 12:56 pm
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authoratthat16-19-2009 12:52 pm
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_FOO_FOO_6-19-2009 12:34 pm
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authoratthat16-19-2009 11:33 am
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Kenn-096-19-2009 11:20 am
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BLUNTBLAZER6-19-2009 10:46 am
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stegallisaac6-19-2009 10:44 am
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Jamel6556-19-2009 10:37 am
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sweetestsimone6-19-2009 10:17 am
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Mike_T316-19-2009 9:59 am
« Previous 1 2These rap niggas are FUNNY!!
im tired of hearing the word “star” for every pro in any league,not everybody who in the pros is a “star” so in the future please know the difference .Kobe,Lebron,Dewayne,Dwight the guys are “stars”This dude and any 2nd string player are not stars they just played in the league!!!!
i would f**k foo foo autoratthat!!!!
HHmmmmm…My Sister going to Jail…VS…Breaking the Law…C’mon easy choice, but he did nothing wrong, only the Police…Why would his sister have a relationship with a drug dealer? Shouldnt she be set already?
This is a funny blog foreal.
_FOO_FOO! Your name says it all. You must have seen my page. I normally only talk to PRETTY LADIES. Is that what you are mad at? Now, my career and financial well being is not today’s subject. So keep your stilletos on the sidewalk and stay in pocket! Around the middle of the page it CLEARLY says, “THe indictment refers to Richardson as Jr. Also, It was not clear if Richardson had a lawyer representing him in the case, and a telephone listing for him could not be determined Wednesday”. Was he already in court little girl? Who knows! But it does say that he is involved in the case. Media does s**t to peoples record sales, social life, etc. There is people that are reluctant to f**k with Chris Brown right now after what he did to Rhianna isn’t it? May GOD help this BLACK MAN that his career does not totall diminish/dissolve! But it will be affected. THEY ARE PLAYING WITH HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW! I thank your stupid ass for your comment! Now, you have exemplified just why their are so many half siblings. YOU ARE THE PRIME EXAMPLE. P.S. Don’t be jealous……….
authoratthat1… i think you might be a little slow… this is not the end of richardsons career. no charges are being brought against him… i hope you’re not actually an author because your response was long, drawn out, pieced together, and didnt make much sense.
I’ll just say it like this. Each one reach one, each one teach one. This dude spent over 10 years playing for 3 different NBA teams. His family knew that he was going to make it from college. Black people, let’s help one another! The statistics for half siblings these days, unfortunately, is pretty hi. His SISTER should have been dating someone in the NBA, NFL, etc. This guy received this tip MONTHS earlier! I feel the reporter of this article on this one! Don’t be stingy with your money! ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FAMILY! If she was his full blooded sister, would this situation had still occured? You all don’t understand the significance that this cop shared with this BLACK MAN! Had he killed his ass. We’d all be talking s**t Let’s wake the F**K UP! So what! Some cops are crooked, but this one would have allowed this dude to do alot of s**t! Take care of your families BLACK MEN! WOMEN, you all too! Slowly but surely, these tables are turning. DO NOT F**K IT UP! Now, a BEAUTIFUL career is going down the drain. The prosecutors want his ass too! And the cop is getting fired. This is a f**king shame! Let’s LOVE ALL OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. So what your Daddy was f**kin her Momma, vice versa. Love her ass anyway! One……….
Tha gurl prolly spent half tha money and she’s still on tha street. She got a officer fired and her NBA brother in tha headlines and she’ll prolly be datin another drug dealer next week.
officer ricky lol there is one in everycity. why he still have all that in the house after the heads up but they hit hella houses coles got life? dam
He Aint the first And He Wont BE the Last.
real recongnize real put me on the force and plenty niggaz will get through the crackers put it here to bait black people to smoke reversed it and black and white got caught up suckers….get dat money free Ace Capone
I really would like to know why he still had drugs , money , and guns after receiving a tip .
HE DID IT FOR HIS SISTER. I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME.