Anton Beard, Jacorey Williams and Dustin Thomas face forgery charges and are being held without bond after all three were identified on surveillance cameras using fake bills, according to a police report, via the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Beard has been charged with the majority with nine counts, while Thomas and Williams are facing two and one, respectively.
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Police arrested three University of Arkansas basketball players Wednesday, alleging they used counterfeit money to buy merchandise at three locations near campus.
According to the preliminary reports on the incident, the three players were “very identifiable from their tattoos, build, and general appearance” on videos that showed counterfeit $20 bills being used to purchase miscellaneous items, including “tobacco products”, at various locations in Fayetteville.
It was reported the three were cooperative and denied knowingly passing counterfeit money. The student-athletes have been suspended indefinitely from the men’s basketball program. The athletic department said student-athletes had to act in an appropriate manner at all times. Arkansas coach Mike Anderson did not return text messages or phone calls from ESPN.com seeking comment.
Beard, a sophomore from North Little Rock, was a freshman starter on last year’s Razorbacks team that went to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Thomas, 19, has yet to play for Arkansas as he transferred in from Colorado. Kapita enrolled at Spire Academy in Ohio for a post-graduate year, the school announced. He remains committed to Arkansas.
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Forward Bobby Portis, the SEC Player of the Year, turned pro and was a first-round draft choice by the Chicago Bulls, while starting guard/forward Michael Qualls also turned pro early and signed as a free agent with the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the suspension of Williams and Kapita’s absence, that leaves Moses Kingsley, Trey Thompson and Willie Kouassi and Keaton Miles as the only forwards on the roster.
