STATE STRIPS TANK BLACK OF SPORTS AGENT LICENSE

More Than A Year After Allegations Against Him Surfaced, Tank Black Is
Out Of The Agent Business In Florida

For the first time since he allegedly made cash payments to University
of Florida football players two years ago, beleaguered sports agent
William ``Tank'' Black has lost his license to work as an agent in
Florida.

That was settled Wednesday when the state Department of Business and
Professional Regulation closed a deal accepting ``voluntary
relinquishment'' of Black's license in exchange for dropping its case
against him.

Documents obtained by The Tampa Tribune show that up until three weeks
ago, the only thing stopping Black from operating as a sports agent in
Florida was his decision not to pay his annual license renewal fee.
While he faces a litany of more serious charges elsewhere ranging from
drug and money laundering to fraud, he has not been convicted of any
crimes.

Black currently is in Detroit, where he is scheduled to be arraigned
Tuesday on charges that he participated in a multimillion-dollar drug
ring by laundering drug money through a car title-loan business. He
also has been indicted on charges that he helped drug traffickers flee
the country in a chartered airplane. And he awaits trial in Florida on
charges that he defrauded several NFL players, including Tampa Bay
Buccaneers receivers Jacquez Green and Reidel Anthony, out of millions
of dollars.

In the eyes of the DBPR, the state agency charged with regulating
sports agent activity in Florida, Black technically remained in good
standing until three weeks ago.

Documents show that on July 27, he signed a sworn agreement promising
``never again to apply for licensure as a athlete agent in the state of
Florida.''

``This effectively ends the case against him and saves a lot of the
legal work that would have been involved to pursue this any further,''
DBPR spokeswoman Christina Johnson said.

In sworn affidavits, former UF football players Jevon Kearse, Johnny
Rutledge and Reggie McGrew attested to receiving cash payments from
Alfred Twitty, a Black employee.

However, the DBPR allowed Black to avoid a finding of proba ble cause
by giving up his license voluntarily. A finding of probable cause would
have been necessary before the state could take further action against
him.

``... While the acts alleged may constitute a violation of the athlete
agent statutes, prosecution is not warranted as you have agreed to
voluntarily surrender your athlete agent license,'' DBPR attorney David
Minacci wrote Black to confirm the state's willingness to drop its
case.

Bill Cervone, chief assistant state attorney in Gainesville, retains
the right to bring criminal charges against Black, but he said Friday
that is unlikely. ``I would say in the long term, the federal action
may make ours moot, for practical purposes,'' Cervone said.

He said it is his understanding the federal charges against Black
could carry up to a life sentence if he is convicted.

Critics say the state law intended to deter sports agents from
improperly pursuing athletes at Florida universities is not serving its
purpose. Such laws have been on the books since 1988, but no athlete
agent has had his license revoked in Florida.

Until last month, state law capped potential damages an agent might be
forced to pay at $5,000.

``The general consensus is there was no teeth in it because there's so
much money involved in this activity. A little bit of a fine wasn't
enough of a deterrent,'' said Pam Hackett, legislative aid to Rep. Bill
Andrews, R-Delray Beach, who co-wrote legislation designed to
strengthen Florida's laws dealing with rogue agents.

Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, helped rewrite the law in 1995.

The 1995 revisions did not include anything stating that providing
gifts to players is a violation of state law and allowed agents to
shield themselves by using ``runners.''

King and Andrews made more changes to the agent laws during the spring
legislative session. Gov. Jeb Bush signed the changes into law June 23.

Hackett said the new law should be a stronger deterrent.

Universities will be allowed to sue agents for damages, including lost
revenue and legal fees.

``Under this new law, even a runner is subject to the same second-
degree felony and recoverable damages [as] the agent,'' Hackett said.
``So even if he finds somebody to do his dirty work, we've got a way to
squeeze the turnip.''