Former NBA player Kermit Washington is charged in KC with fraud, identity theft, obstructing justice

Federal prosecutors in Kansas City announced charges Wednesday against former NBA player Kermit Washington related to the African charity he founded.

Washington, 64, whose career was marred by a 1977 incident in which he almost killed another player, was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles.

A federal grand jury in Kansas City indicted him on charges of interfering with internal revenue laws, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obstruction of justice and aggravated identity theft, prosecutors said.

Washington allegedly diverted more than $480,000 from the Project Contact Africa charity he founded and “bankrolled that money for his own profit,” said Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

“Washington used his celebrity status to exploit the good intentions” of those who donated to the charity, she said.

An attorney representing Washington called the indictment a “travesty” and said Washington is innocent of any “fraud-related activity.”

“Given the secretive, biased and unfair nature of the federal grand jury process, with no right to have a defense attorney involved in the proceedings, the indictment is suspect,” attorney Karren Kenney said in a written statement.