Retired NBA veteran Kermit Washington has been arrested following an investigation carried out by the Homeland Security and other federal agencies. According to sources, his arrest is connected to a tax fraud case that also involves Ron Mix, an NFL Hall of Famer.
News about the former professional basketball player's arrest was confirmed by TMZ after speaking with a member of the Homeland Security Investigations. The agency's spokesperson, to not give additional details regarding Washington's case.
"Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) arrested former NBA player Kermit Washington in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, on a federal arrest warrant as part of an on-going investigation," spokesperson Shawn Neuduer told TMZ.
According to TMZ's sources, Washington was arrested for his connection to another active case involving Mix. The site noted that Mix, who recently pled guilty during a court case regarding tax fraud charges, became a compensation lawyer for workers after retiring from the NFL.
Officials also said during the court hearing that Mix frequently worked with an unnamed person known as Individual F. As detailed in the hearing, the latter would refer Mix to professional athlete looking for legal counsel.
In turn, Mix would donate to a non-profit organization known as Project Contact Africa. Court officials also claimed that Individual used a portion of Mix's donations, which amounted to $155,000, for his personal use.
According to its website, Project Contact Africa organizes the delivery of aid and other services to certain regions in East Africa. Although Washington is named as one of the founders of the organization, it is not yet clear if he is the person referred to as Individual F.
Washington played in the NBA from 1973 to 1987 and became part of various teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, San Diego Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
Although one of his career highlights was being an NBA All-Star. He is probably most notable for allegedly punching, and almost killing, Rudy Tomjanovich during a game between the Lakers and Houston Rockets on Dec. 9, 1977, according to Bleacher Report.
