NCAA looking into booster's claims that Miami players took cash

Article from cbssports.com...

The NCAA has launched an investigation into the University of Miami's athletic department involving a potentially damaging extra benefits case, two sources confirmed to CBSSports.com.

InsideTheU.com first reported the news.

A source confirmed that the focus of the investigation stems from claims made by Nevin Shapiro, a Miami booster who has been convicted of running a multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme. He is working on a tell-all book about the claims, which is expected to name nearly 100 athletes at the school who broke NCAA rules since 2001. Shapiro donated $150,000 to the athletic department and was a frequent guest on the sidelines at Hurricanes practices and games.

Palm Beach Post beat writer Jorge Milian reported Sunday night that Shapiro would also be the focus of a damaging story from Yahoo! Sports.

One source said Miami was "in big trouble" as a result of the claims and that Shapiro would be able to back up his allegations. Most of the allegations focus on Miami football players receiving money and other benefits as a result of playing for the Hurricanes. Investigators are expected to question several current players with ties to Shapiro but one source said there was no connection between the current coaching staff and the booster.

The NCAA has been active in South Florida over the past several months, sending investigators to various 7-on-7 camps and making connections with parents and coaches. One source added that the secondary focus of the look was on the recruiting methods of at least three SEC schools and a number of ACC schools in the area. It is unclear whether the two probes are connected but one person told CBSSports.com that the NCAA will be questioning several people connected to the Miami players, such as coaches and other "third parties" connected to them.

Though several have called Shapiro's information into question, two sources told CBSSports.com that the NCAA is taking the claims seriously and investigators have used information from convicted felons in the past.

The NCAA does have a four-year statute of limitations. Miami was hit with major sanctions in 1995 as a result of a lack of institutional control stemming from a financial aid and extra benefits scandal.