Following allegations of gambling infractions and tampering with an investigation against Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, several other student-athletes at ISU and the University of Iowa have been charged in a gambling sting for the same violations.
Iowa kicker Aaron Blom, Iowa State offensive linemane Dodge Sauser and Iowa State wrestler Paniro Johnson were all charged this week, according to the Associated Press. Former Iowa basketball player Ahron Ulis and former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen were also charged, as well as former Iowa State football player and Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike, who is currently serving an indefinite suspension from the NFL for gambling.
Per the AP report:
Each is accused in the complaints of tampering with records related to an Iowa Criminal Division investigation into sports gambling. Current athletes also could face a loss of eligibility for violating NCAA gambling rules.
The report added that “the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Wednesday the investigation was ongoing and additional charges could be filed.”
Dekkers and Sauser are expected to plead not guilty for the charges, per their attorney Mark Weinhardt.
The AP also outlined the specific gambling infractions that Ulis and Christensen are alleged to have committed:
Ulis, who transferred to Nebraska after starting 27 games for the Hawkeyes last season, is accused of placing online wagers on a FanDuel account set up under the name of his brother, one complaint said.
Ulis was under Iowa’s legal gambling age of 21 when, between February 2021 to December 2022, he used his phone to make about 1,850 wagers totaling over $34,800, with at least one placed on an Iowa sporting event and over 430 placed on NCAA basketball and football games, the complaint said.
Christensen, who appeared in 11 baseball games for the Hawkeyes last season, is alleged to have used his phone to make 559 wagers totaling $2,400 with the DraftKings Sportsbook from last November to February, with 23 placed on Iowa sporting events. The account was under his mother’s name.
The sting follows Iowa State notifying the NCAA of at least 15 student-athletes involved in gambling in early May. The University of Iowa baseball team was also previously under investigation by the state’s gaming commission.