It’s a story about brazen corruption in South Florida.
Nevin Shapiro is a white-collar criminal convicted of a Ponzi scheme, among other crimes. Shapiro started Capital Investments USA to buy wholesale groceries and ship them to more expensive markets. Shapiro schemed to attract investors to Capital Investing by touting Capitaol’s profitability.
Former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro with Cornelius Green reportedly accepted cash/gifts from Shapiro while at UM. (photo courtesy Nevin Shapiro, published in Sports Illustrated)
The fraud didn’t stop with the grocery business. Shapiro also dipped into the sports world. In 2002, Shapiro paid $1.5 million for a 30% stake in sports management company Axcess Sports. Founded by Michael Huyghue, the company signed a number of Miami Hurricanes football players, including Vince Wilfork.
Shapiro reportedly spent $2 million from 2002 to 2010 boosting University of Miami sports, primarily football. His efforts also put him in close contact with the head basketball coach at the time, Frank Haith. Shapiro would provide benefits for football players and the athletic program, including providing cars, cash, prostitutes, and performance-enhancing drugs. A 2005 Yahoo! Sports article showed Shapiro in the VIP section of the Opium Garden Nightclub accompanied by Kellen Winslow, Jr., Joe Kolchinsky, Haith, and University of Miami President Donna Shalala.
An investigation revealed that between 2002-2010, over 70 University of Miami football players received benefits from Shapiro. These players included Jon Beason, Antrel Rolle, Devin Hester, Willis McGahee, Sean Taylor, and Wilfork.
You never know what’s happening behind the scenes of college sports unless there are people willing to talk to investigators and reporters.
