Federal authorities mum on alleged extortion attempt against RG3

By KIRSTEN CROW
kcrow@wacotrib.com

Tuesday June 26, 2012
 
 

Federal authorities were mum Monday about a case against a former Baylor University basketball player who sources said is accused of trying to extort money from Washington Redskins quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.

Federal documents supporting the arrest of 25-year-old Richard Khamir Hurd detail the alleged extortion, saying Hurd contacted a man referred to in arrest warrant affidavits as “B.D.” and said he would release “derogatory information” in order “to damage or injure the reputation of B.D.’s client unless the client paid Hurd a substantial amount of money.”

Authorities allege former Baylor basketball walk-on Richard Hurd extorted “a substantial sum of money” from a man sources say is former Baylor football star Robert Griffin III.
Authorities allege former Baylor basketball walk-on Richard Hurd extorted “a substantial sum of money” from a man sources say is former Baylor football star Robert Griffin III.

The documents were unsealed Monday following Hurd’s arraignment — Hurd was arrested by FBI agents Friday — and sources told the Tribune-Herald on Sunday that Griffin was the target of the reported extortion plot.

Several people are identified in the documents by initials only, including “B.D.,” who is described as a representative from an agency in St. Louis, and federal agents would not confirm the identities of anyone mentioned in the affidavit.

Griffin’s agent is Ben Dogra, who works out of a St. Louis office of CAA Sports. The office did not respond to an interview request Monday.

Others in the affidavits included someone called “B.S.,” appointed to meet with Hurd on behalf of B.D. and his client, and “J.F.,” an attorney for the agency in St. Louis. Hurd, who lettered in basketball at Baylor from 2004 to 2008, according to Baylor’s media guide, ultimately did meet with an agent of B.D. and received the agreed-upon amount of money, the documents state.

According to the arrest warrant affidavits, B.D. contacted FBI officials on June 18 and told them of Hurd’s alleged threats conveyed through email and telephone messages.

The deadline for the transaction was first set for 1 p.m. June 18, but Hurd extended the deadline “to give B.D. a chance to talk with his client,” the affidavits state.

A meeting was set for Friday at an undisclosed Waco business after B.D. and Hurd settled on the amount of a lump-sum payment, according to court documents.

B.S., on behalf of B.D. and his client, met with Hurd, who “signed a nondisclosure agreement, turned over his derogatory information and was given a check representing the lump-sum payment,” the affidavit states.

Hurd was arrested shortly after the meeting, which was witnessed by an FBI agent, according to the court document.

Federal authorities Monday said they could not comment about the case, how much money was offered for the so-called derogatory information, detail the nature of the information involved in the alleged extortion or identify anyone involved in the case.

Protecting the victim

Special Agent Erik Vasys, an FBI spokesman, said it was not unusual to keep the identity of an extortion victim out of arrest warrant affidavits.

“The primary concern in any extortion case when anyone is charged is that the victim is protected from further harm by the person or persons conducting the extortion,” he said. “In many cases, this involves protecting their identity.”

Hurd was released from the McLennan County Jail around noon after jail officials received a fax from federal authorities, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman said.

It was not clear whether he posted the $25,000 bond set by U.S. Magistrate Jeffrey C. Manske.

Russell Hunt Sr., a Waco attorney, was appointed as Hurd’s legal representation during his 10 a.m. arraignment.

The arraignment initially was set for 2 p.m. but was rescheduled for 10 a.m., according to a spokeswoman at the U.S. District Clerk’s Office.

Attempts to reach Hurd and his attorney on Monday afternoon were unsuccessful, and messages left for Griffin’s parents were not returned.

Jacqueline Griffin, Robert Griffin III’s mother, said Sunday she did not know of any incidents between her son and Hurd, adding that she did not know Hurd’s name.

Little about Hurd’s post-Baylor life was known Monday afternoon, although jail records listed Hurd’s city of residence as New Caney, a suburb of Houston.

It was not clear where Hurd was employed, but it appeared he is linked to College Campus Crashers, a company that seemed to specialize in entertainment, and was requesting votes for a small business loan on a Facebook page.

Hurd played basketball at Heritage Christian Academy in Cleveland, Texas, before earning a spot on Baylor’s team.

The 6-foot 5-inch forward was a walk-on at Baylor beginning in 2004, starting 10 games as a freshman.

Jerome Tang, an assistant Baylor basketball coach and Hurd’s high school coach, said Monday afternoon that he didn’t know anything about the case.

“His lawyer advised him not to say anything, so we’re all in the dark,” he said.

 

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