Miami (AFP) – Former NBA player Marcus Morris has been arrested on a felony fraud charge after being accused of bouncing two checks worth a combined $265,000 at Las Vegas casinos, according to multiple reports Tuesday. Las Vegas television station KLAS and celebrity website TMZ reported that Morris got $150,000 from Wynn Hotel and Casino in June 2024 and also wrote checks for $115,000 to the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in May of last year.
Morris, who has appeared as a guest analyst on ESPN, was arrested Sunday at an airport in Florida on a warrant from Nevada and will be extradited to Las Vegas, according to Clark County court records seen by KLAS. The 35-year-old American faces one charge of drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds with intent to defraud more than $1,200 and a theft charge for $100,000 or more.
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While he did not play last season, Morris spent 13 seasons in the NBA from 2011-2024 with Houston, Phoenix, Detroit, Boston, New York, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. He had career averages of 12.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists a game.
Markief Morris, the twin brother of Marcus who played for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, posted on X about the situation, saying: “The wording is crazy. Damn for that amount of money they’ll embarrass you in the airport with your family. They got y’all really thinking bro did some fraud… They could have came to the crib for all that.”
Yony Noy, the agent for Marcus Morris, called the situation “absolute insanity.” “Just so everyone understands this is zero fraud here,” Noy posted on X. “This is due to an outstanding marker with a casino. Apparently, if you have over $1,200 they can issue a warrant for your arrest.”
© 2024 AFP
