Crime & Arrests

USC says it has already launched an internal investigation into its basketball program after Asst. Coach Tony Bland was arrested ... and the Trojans have hired an ex-FBI director to lead the charge.

As we previously reported, Bland was arrested as part of an FBI sting into corruption and bribery in college basketball. Officials believe he illegally took bribes to put student athletes in touch with financial advisors.

USC says Bland has been placed on administrative leave -- and they've brought in Louis Freeh and his firm to conduct the internal investigation "so that we can take action quickly and appropriately."

Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person has been suspended without pay effective immediately, the university announced on Tuesday, following his arrest in the NCAA basketball corruption scandal.

“This morning’s news is shocking. We are saddened, angry and disappointed. We have suspended Coach Person without pay effective immediately," the school said in a statement.

"We are committed to playing by the rules, and that’s what we expect from our coaches. In the meantime, Auburn is working closely with law enforcement, and we will help them in their investigation in any way we can.”

As we previously reported, Person -- a former NBA star with the Pacers -- allegedly took thousands of dollars in bribes to steer players to a financial advisor and high-end suit-maker.

USC athletic director, Lynn Swann says he was "shocked" to find out about the arrest of asst. basketball coach, Tony Bland ... but the University vows to "cooperate fully" with authorities.

"We were shocked to learn this morning through news reports about the FBI investigation and arrests related to NCAA basketball programs, including the arrest of USC assistant Tony Bland," Swann said in a statement.

"USC Athletics maintains the highest standards in athletic compliance across all of our programs and does not tolerate misconduct in any way."

"We will cooperate fully with the investigation and will assist authorities as needed, and if these allegations are true, will take the needed actions."

9:31 AM -- All 10 suspects -- including the 4 coaches -- have now been arrested, officials say.

8:57 AM PT -- The U.S. Attorney's Office is about to hold a news conference to explain the charges. The conference is set to begin in a few minutes.

The FBI claims Jim Gatto -- the Director of Global Marketing for Adidas Basketball -- paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to funnel top prospects to Adidas sponsored colleges ... including Louisville.

It's all part of a massive probe into corruption in NCAA basketball -- spelled out in 3 separate criminal complaints.

One of the probes centered around Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person, who allegedly took thousands of dollars in bribes to steer players to a financial advisor and a high-end suit-maker.

The 3rd probe included USC assistant coach Tony Bland, Oklahoma State coach Lamont Evans and Book Richardson from the University of Arizona.

In total, we're told 10 people are facing charges. Eight of those people have been arrested.

It's all in court docs filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of NY and obtained by TMZ Sports.

First, Gatto ...

In the documents, the FBI says Gatto tried to pay one player and his family $100,000 to get him to a school of Gatto's choice. Another player got $150k with the expectation that the player would sign with Adidas when he went to the NBA.

In the docs, the FBI says a coach at a major college in Florida told Gatto that he needed to pay a top player $150k so the player wouldn't attend another D1 school sponsored by a rival apparel company.

The coach allegedly told Gatto that the rival clothing company had also offered the player a "substantial sum of money."

The FBI says it has wiretapped phone calls catching Gatto and his conspirators in the act.

The FBI spells it out ...

"The investigation has revealed multiple instances of bribes paid by athlete advisors, including financial advisors and business managers, as well as high-level apparel company employees, and facilitated by coaches employed by NCAA division 1 universities, to student-athletes playing at or bound for NCAA D-1 universities, and the families of such athletes, in exchange for a commitment by those athletes to matriculate at a specific university and a promise to ultimately sign agreements to be represented by the bribe-payors once the athletes enter the NBA."

As for the case against Chuck Person, the FBI says he collected about $91,500 in bribes in exchange for funneling Auburn players to a particular financial advisor and a high-end suit maker, Rashan Michel.

The FBI says Person would use a portion of the bribes to pay off the families of high-priority recruits.

In one part of the documents, the FBI says Chuck met with a player and counseled him about how players secretly get away with NCAA violations.

He allegedly told one player, "The most important part is that you ... don't say nothing to anybody ... don't share with your sisters, don't share with any of the teammates, that's very important 'cause this is a violation ... of rules. But this is how the NBA players get it done."

"They get early relationships, and they form partnerships, they form trust, you get to know [financial advisor], you get to know Rashan a lot and like Rashan can get you suits and stuff ... you'll start looking like an NBA ball player, that's what you are."

Tom Wopat got handsy with a minor -- a 16-year-old actress -- on the set of his play ... according to authorities who've added new charges against him.

Police say they interviewed the girl 2 weeks after the ex 'Dukes of Hazzard' star was arrested in Waltham, Mass. for felony indecent assault -- he allegedly put his finger in a woman's butt crack. According to new docs, he also poked a minor in her stomach with his finger. The alleged victim was one of his co-stars on the production of "42nd Street."

According to the docs, he told his underage co-star, "I'm a creepy old man, you're really talented and really cute." She told cops she ignored him, but his words made her uncomfortable.

Shortly after that exchange, during rehearsal, she says he struck her butt with his script ... and said, "Nice butt." As for poking her in the stomach -- she says she was especially creeped out because she was wearing a cropped top, and he touched her bare skin.

The alleged victim says an adult on-set told Wopat, "Don't flirt with this girl, she's only 16." She claims Wopat responded, "Don't worry because my wife is 17 years younger than me so I'm good."

He's now facing a new indecent assault and battery charge for the alleged incident ... as well as 2 additional charges of accosting and annoying.

The woman who pointed a gun at the cashier at the Kardashian's DASH store has been arrested.

Cops were able to use surveillance video to track down the woman seen here brandishing a knife. She's 35-year-old Maricia Medrano. Cops went to her home Thursday night, executed a search warrant and found 2 airsoft guns ... similar to the one used by the perp in the first assault.

TMZ broke the story, the person who entered the store knocked down merch, left, and then came back wielding a knife, and that's when she was caught on surveillance video.

Medrano's been booked for assault and criminal threats. She's being held on $50,000 bail.

The video of her ranting with the knife is insane -- as is the fact news photogs didn't budge!

The guy who scored a $338 million Powerball jackpot has been busted for sex crimes involving an underage girl.

Prosecutors charged Pedro Quezada with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor Wednesday in Passaic, NJ.

Authorities say Quezada -- who reportedly opted for the $152 mil lump sum after taxes in 2013 -- sexually assaulted the victim when he lived in Passaic, and she was between 11 and 14 years old.

Martin Shkreli has one thing going for him in prison ... a tasty menu!!!

The Pharma Bro -- who got his ass thrown back in jail after a judge revoked his $5 million bail for threatening Hillary Clinton -- is getting the goods at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Or as good as it can probably get for his taste buds.

Martin -- who's been convicted in a securities fraud case -- will have healthy options to choose from come chow down time. Among the tasty and hearty choices:

-- Soy hot dogs

-- Soy burgers

-- Turkey burgers

-- Vegetable soup

-- Chicken wrap or hummus wrap

-- Chicken fajitas

-- Cream of broccoli soup

-- Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

-- Roast beef

-- Beef tacos

-- Sloppy Joes

-- Swedish meatballs

-- Baked ziti

O.J. Simpson's actually got some misgivings about his impending release ... he feels a bond with his comrades in lockup and is finding it hard to say goodbye.

O.J.'s lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne, tells TMZ ... Juice has been bored and sad in his current situation -- in an isolated cell for his own safety since he was granted parole in July. He says the decision was bittersweet for Simpson, because he's developed close friendships during his 9 years behind bars.

LaVergne says O.J. actually "loved being in general population" because he's super social and feels most comfortable around other people, and he even misses his prison jobs ... like being commissioner of the softball league.

Still ... LaVergne says O.J.'s ready for a return to normal life, and there's a chance he'll get to say goodbye to his prison buddies.

LaVergne tells us O.J. is working on paperwork to get himself moved to Florida to be with his family once he's released ... which he expects to be the second week of October.

Sacramento Kings star Zach Randolph just struck a pretty sweet deal in his marijuana case ... and all he has to do is a TON of community service.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Z-Bo was arrested for felony weed possession with intent to sell back in August when cops say they busted him with more than 2 pounds of pot in Nickerson Gardens.

The charges were later reduced to misdemeanor possession of more than 1 ounce of marijuana and resisting arrest ... and Randolph was facing up to 1 year in jail if convicted on both accounts.

But now, we've learned Randolph struck a deal with prosecutors to plead no contest to misdemeanor resisting arrest ... and in exchange, the pot charge was tossed completely.

Randolph was sentenced to 150 hours of community service as part of a diversion program, which means if he completes the hours and keeps his nose clean for 12 months, the resisting arrest conviction will be wiped from his record.

One more thing ... Randolph was specifically told he may not associate himself with or be around drug dealers as part of the terms of the deal.

The case is due back in court for a progress report in December. Good luck!

Craig Carton is adamant he's not the scumbag con artist he's being made out to be -- claiming he's an innocent victim who was set up by a group of very bad people.

Carton was arrested by the FBI this week and accused of running a multi-million dollar concert ticket scam to pay back millions of dollars in debts to various casinos.

But a rep for the sports radio star says he's NOT A BAD GUY -- the feds simply have a "gross misunderstanding of what happened."

A rep for Carton didn't provide too many details about his defense -- but would only say he's not going down without a fight.

“The government’s allegations against Craig Carton demonstrate a gross misunderstanding of what happened."

"Craig is a victim who was deceived, manipulated and used by individuals seeking to gather assets for their own fraudulent schemes."

Dog the Bounty Hunter's got ZERO sympathy for fugitives seeking shelter as Hurricane Irma heads to Florida. He says throw 'em in the pokey ... however, there's a huge BUT.

We got Dog with his wife, Beth, leaving Craig's Thursday night in WeHo and we asked him for his take on a Florida sheriff warning fugitives they'll be jailed if they seek shelter as Irma levels its way to FLA.

For those who don't know what the Polk County Sheriff's Office said ... "If you go to a shelter for Irma and you have a warrant, we'll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail."

Boomer Esiason is backing Craig Carton after his longtime co-host's FBI arrest ... saying he's still got love for the sports radio personality despite the "shocking" news.

“I’ve loved my partner for 10 years and I still love my partner,” Boomer said on WFAN Thursday.

“I loved his family, loved his kids and I am praying every single day ... there’s nothing worse than having a family going through what they have to go through.”

Boomer added that he's been blown away by the support he's received since Carton's alleged ticket fraud scheme came to light ... but you can tell the NFL legend's still pretty emotional about it.

Esiason also confirmed that Carton's indefinitely suspended ... and says he'll continue bringing in different guests to fill his seat. On Thursday, Phil Simms was subbing in.

Craig Carton's partner in an alleged ticket fraud scheme was so concerned about the million in debt they allegedly owed ... he considered fleeing the country and assuming a new identity.

At least, that's what investigators say they learned during a criminal probe into the famous radio host -- who allegedly bilked investors out of millions of dollars to repay casino debts.

As we previously reported, Carton -- one-half of the famous "Boomer and Carton Show" -- was arrested by FBI agents early Wednesday morning.

Officials say he and another man concocted and executed a ponzi-style scheme to take millions of dollars from investors under the guise of a ticket scalping business. Only, the money was allegedly used to pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in mysterious personal debts ... which appear to be related to gambling.

The docs, filed in federal court in NY, don't specifically say Carton blew the money gambling ... but alleges he made several HUGE wire transfers to casino companies using money that was supposed to be used for the ticket business.

At one point, Carton's alleged co-conspirator fired off an email to Carton with the following proposal to escape their debts -- "Run to Costa Rica, change name, and start life all over again."

The other man noted, "May not be an option."

Officials say Carton didn't seem too fazed -- assuring the other man he had another $1 million coming in from investors and "will need to be discussed how to handle."

Mariachi superstar Pepe Aguilar's son won't be doing any more jail time for his failed attempt this March to smuggle 4 Chinese immigrants across the San Ysidro border in the trunk of his car.

Jose Emiliano Aguilar was sentenced Tuesday to time served. He also got 3 years probation and will have to serve six months in a sober living facility.

The 24-year-old copped a plea deal in June. He was originally facing up to 10 years in prison. Ultimately, he only served 18 days before getting released on bond and striking the deal.

"Straight Outta Compton" actor R. Marcos Taylor -- who played Suge Knight in the flick -- allegedly went on a rampage at a New Jersey bank, threatening to kill employees and lunging at police.

Cops say they were called to a TD Bank August 8 to handle an enraged Taylor. We're told the actor had an issue with a bank card and needed a new one, and he was hostile from the get-go.

A witness tells us Taylor threatened an employee, saying, "I will f***ing kill you."

Cops say when they arrived, Taylor squared off in a fighting stance so they pepper sprayed and then arrested him.

Taylor was charged with terroristic threats, obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.