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Ex-Gator testifies against agent

GAINESVILLE -- Jaguars running back Fred Taylor testified Wednesday he was swindled out of most of his $5-million NFL signing bonus by an agent who "robbed everybody blind."

Taylor, testifying in the federal fraud trial of William "Tank" Black, choked back tears as he recalled how Black violated his trust.

"I agreed with everything he said," Taylor told a U.S. District Court jury. "I trusted him with my life, with my daughter's life."

Also appearing as prosecution witnesses were current and former NFL players Robert Brooks, Germane Crowell, Terry Allen and Jacquez Green, all once represented by Black.

He is charged with fraud for allegedly stealing between $12-million and $14-million from players he represented. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Immediately after Taylor, who played at the University of Florida, signed with Jacksonville in 1998, he received part of his signing bonus, about $2.4-million. That went straight to Black, Taylor said.

"I trusted Tank that he would do right with the money," Taylor testified. "Every so often, I would ask how it was doing. And I got this sheet that said a bunch of money was reinvested and reinvested, but it was make-believe."

Taylor's testimony came after Brooks said he lost $2.5-million by investing in a company Black allegedly set up as part of a money-laundering scheme.

The father of Bucs receiver Reidel Anthony, also from UF, told the jury his son was defrauded out of $1-million in connection with the same company.

Crowell said Black advised him to take out a $600,000 loan after the Lions drafted him 1998. Black then allegedly told Crowell to invest in Black Americans of Achievement.

The SEC alleges Black's clients reportedly paid $1.2-million for BAOA investments. Between March 1996 and November 1997, Black charged 15 clients a total of $1.1-million to buy BAOA stock he had the company issue free, it says.

USF names fundraiser

Joe Tomaino has been named senior major gifts officer in the South Florida athletic department, a new position.

Tomaino, who has been at USF for 36 years, will raise money for the proposed on-campus athletic facility and enhancements to other athletic venues.

"There may be no one on our campus who has a better historical perspective of USF than Joe Tomaino," athletic director Lee Roy Selmon said.

"He understands where this university has been, where it is at and where it needs to grow in the future."

Tomaino came to USF in 1966 as the assistant director of the Learning Center, an inner city program that counseled and found jobs for at-risk youth.

He also has been executive director of the Alumni Association (1971-85), Annual Fund director (1985-91), director of special gifts (1991-94) and development director for the College of Education (1994-2002).

"This is a very exciting period in the history of USF athletics," he said. "And I am excited to hit the ground running to assure even better times ahead."

FLORIDA STATE: Offensive lineman Cory Niblock (6 feet 4, 280 pounds), a Class 3A third-team all-state selection from St. Augustine Nease, become the 12th player to orally commit.

MISSISSIPPI: Defensive tackle Brandon Roddy faces sexual battery charges and has been indefinitely suspended. He was arrested Saturday and released Tuesday on $20,000 bond. Roddy could face 30 years in prison.

-- Staff writers Brian Landman and Pete Young contributed to this report.

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