Former Adidas executive James Gatto, an official at the center of the massive bribery scheme in college basketball, has agreed to pay restitution to three schools wrapped up in his crimes.
The Kansas City Star reports that the University of Kansas, the University of Louisville, and North Carolina State University will be paid more than $340,000 to cover legal fees and to reimburse the schools for the scholarships they provided to ineligible student-athletes.
Gatto, along with co-conspirators Merl Code and Christian Dawkins, were convicted on federal fraud charges in October for their roles in funneling payments to student-athletes and their families in order to get them to commit to certain programs and to sign agreements with particular agents once their professional careers began.
KU originally sought restitution and damages that were much higher than what Gatto agreed to pay, related to everything from responding to subpoenas to legal fees related to preparing senior director of compliance Jeff Smith to be a witness at trial.
Louisville and NC State, meanwhile, sought lower total restitution.
Gatto’s agreement will only partially reimburse the schools for legal fees and scholarships.
