UAPD seizes 4 computers from Athletics Department

Arizona Summer Wildcat Mikal Smith and Leland Gayles, right

University police confiscated four computers from Athletics Department officials July 9 in connection with an alleged book scam involving two UA football players.

Detectives seized the computers, along with computer disks, documents and receipts, from the department in an attempt to locate $6,850 in missing books, said University of Arizona Police Department Sgt. Sal Celi.

Police discovered a list of 33 non-scholarship athletes who allegedly received textbooks from the athletics department. When police contacted eight players on the list, they found that none of them had received any of the nearly $7,000 in missing books, Celi said.

This prompted the seizure of the Athletics Department's records. No arrests have been made in connection to the search warrant, he said.

Police said they hope files on the seized computers will further the investigation.

"What we don't know yet, is where the missing books went," Celi said.

The Athletics Department provides books for all full-scholarship athletes at the beginning of each semester. It also issues book vouchers to student athletes when they add a class after the start of a semester.

All books are property of the Athletics Department and must be returned at the end of each semester.

Starting safety Mikal Smith, 20, and reserve cornerback Leland Gayles, 20, were arrested June 11 after police found 67 illegally obtained books in the trunk of Gayles' car.

Police suspect the books were stolen from book bins in the McKale Center or purchased with vouchers stolen from the Athletics Department, Celi said.

The investigation began about nine weeks ago when bookstore employees became suspicious after a customer sold the same book back to the store twice in two days.

The Pima County Attorney's Office dismissed fraud charges on both players pending further investigation, Detective Larry Forchione said.

He said the charges will be re-filed once all of the taped interviews with Smith and Gayles are transcribed.

An internal audit of the Athletics Department's academic offices should be completed within the next few weeks, Celi said.