NBA veteran Marcus Morris denies fraud charge after arrest ordeal
The 13-year NBA veteran and ESPN analyst was arrested on a felony charge of fraud over allegations that he wrote $260,000 in bad checks to cover gambling markers at two Las Vegas casinos.
In a lengthy message posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Morris explained that 'no mistakes [were made] on my behalf' and a misunderstanding occurred after he took out a marker to gamble in Las Vegas.
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'Did I take out a marker to gamble? Yes,' Morris, 35, wrote. 'Was this my first time, no. I've been enjoying my off time and doing what I like every year at some point in Vegas at a high level for years and that's not just gambling. I really thought the amount of money and time I spent there would really have value … so this year I took my time to pay back the money that could of been [handled] on the spot if I'd known that would have been locked up like I was trying to flee or a flight risk.'
WARNING: Language
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Morris went on to explain that he was upset being painted to 'look like a criminal over a petty couple hundred' dollars.
'So did I go past the time I needed to repay, yea probably did. Did I know they would locked (sic) me up helllllll No,' he added, with a few crying laughing emojis.
3 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – APRIL 02: Marcus Morris Sr. #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on April 2, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Morris appeared at a hearing Tuesday in Broward County, where a judge denied his motion for bond, saying she would only release Morris to Nevada authorities for extradition — or if the warrants that were issued for his arrest were withdrawn, according to TMZ.
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His twin brother, former NBA champ Markieff Morris, attended the hearing and he denied the fraud allegation in a post on X.
Morris's next court date is set for late August.
3 Markieff Morris #88 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses with Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers prior to the game on May 6, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.
NBAE via Getty Images
'Say what you want but FRAUD will never be something I'm apart of or wasting my time with,' Morris, a ex-Knick, wrote in his caption. 'Them coins ain't changing no life styles on this side. This won't be up for long. No mistakes on my behalf just didn't think that was possible. More of a lessoned (sic) learned.
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'But to sit for 51 hours no bail and not even a chance to pay it back till after 2 days go by was outta pocket. 24 hour Lockdown no food or water for the whole 51 hours. That's the part that hurt me the most. I've put my time resources into every in my life but to be treated in that manner did something to me.
3 Marcus Morris Sr. #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round 1, Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
NBAE via Getty Images
'I've been enjoying my self in Vegas for 10 years plus at a high level and not just gambling if you know us. So take it how you want it. Only thing I look back on my kids and family and friends that know were I stand as a MAN that came from nothing. Never been a fraud or did fraud s–t. I will take this moment and learn from it and take slander if that what you call it. Internet undefeated I'm not going back and forth with no one.
'You can't spend markers outside of the casino. No money was exchanged or taken from any casino and into my pocket. You spend that money there if you don't know how it works. Last thing, I never wrote a check at any point to a casino. When u get a marker that's considered a check which I didn't know. We could've handled this MOB style in the back room at the casinos lol. But seriously though never been a FRAUD or participated in no fraud s–t. Thank you to whoever in my corner you know where I stand and who I am. Social media undefeated so have at it. God has his plan for me.'
Morris added that he and Markieff 'will address this live on camera' on Wednesday.
Morris' agent, Yony Noy, publicly denied the fraud allegation.
'Just so everyone understands this is zero fraud here or whatever crap outlets have said regarding fake checks or whatever the hell,' Noy wrote Sunday to X. 'This is due to an outstanding marker with a casino. Apparently if you have over $1,200 they can issue a warrant for your arrest. Absolute insanity!'
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