Iowa State quarterback charged for tampering with gambling probe
The criminal complaint said Dekkers made 366 mobile bets totalling over $2,799 in spend over several years.
Citing a subpoenaed DraftKings account said to be controlled by the quarterback, the document alleges he made 297 of these wagers while under the age of 21 and placed 26 bets on Iowa State University events.
The prosecution also noted one bet that was placed on the 2021 Iowa State football game against Oklahoma State, in which Dekkers was a back-up but did not play.
The investigation first commenced in May, when the University of Iowa announced that 26 athletes across five sports were suspected of betting on sports in violation of NCAA rules.
Ultimately, prosecutors in Story County and Iowa City charged seven current or former Iowa athletes in connection to the NCAA probe, all with one count of tampering with records related to the investigation.
These include current Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike, Iowa State Cyclones Dodge Sauser and former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen.
Prosecutors allege Dekkers involved parents in scheme
Story County prosecutors allege he did so through a scheme involving his parents, Jami and Scott Dekkers, who he involved to disguise his wagers. This involved betting on an account set up in his mother’s name.
As proof of the charge prosecutors said bets were made using Dekkers’ personal iPhone, at his university residence and within Story County Iowa, where he was based.
In a statement made on behalf of Dekkers by the Weinhardt Law Firm, the quarterback denied the criminal charge.
“This charge attempts to criminalise a daily fact of American life. Millions of people share online accounts of all kinds every day,” said the statement.
“This prosecution interferes with and politicises what is the business of Iowa State University and the NCAA. The investigation at the Iowa universities is the tip of an iceberg. Thousands and thousands of college athletes place bets – usually very small ones – with shared accounts. That is for the schools and the NCAA to police.
“This investigation has gone on since May, when DCI agents executed a search warrant at Hunter’s apartment in Ames and another at his family’s home in northwest Iowa. The investigation has been an immense distraction from Hunter’s ability to be a good student and a great teammate.”