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Adrien Broner’s name popped up in a court case involving a man who claimed to be his manager.
According to The Cincinnati Enquirer pro boxer Adrien Broner, 30, has been linked with drug trafficking and money laundering investigations. Those claims were presented in federal court documents during a case involving Giovanni Crawford, 29.
Crawford was stopped by police in Cincinnati in December 2016. Inside his rental vehicle cops found $14,000 in cash. Another $1,000 in cash was found on Crawford’s person. Federal prosecutors, who allege that the money was obtained through illegal acts, have taken Crawford to court in an attempt to have the $15,000 forfeited to the government.
According to court documents Crawford initially told police that Broner was his brother and that Broner always gave him “money to hold for him.” After Crawford said this, Crawford’s 7-year-old son — who was in the backseat — reportedly said, “AB did not give my dad the money; another man did.”
This September Crawford submitted a claim for the money, stating it was, “payment from Adrien Broner Enterprises for services as Adrien Broner’s manager.”
In the forfeiture case documents, investigators revealed that they suspected Crawford of criminal offenses in 2016. Those documents state:
“Ohio [Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST)] Team III, [Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)] Special Agent Michael Nimmo (“SA Nimmo”) responded to the Patrol Headquarters after receiving information that [Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU)] had encountered Crawford and had requested record checks and assistance with a bulk of cash and narcotics-smuggling joint investigation that appeared to involve money orders being sent from Cincinnati by persons with drug histories. Crawford and Adrien Broner were known to SA Nimmo as being associated with other BEST Team III and RENU narcotics and money laundering investigations.”
Neither Crawford nor Broner have ever been charged in connection to those alleged investigations.
The Enquirer reached out to Broner’s attorney, Will Welsh, to ask about these claims. Welsh told that outlet that he has never heard of Crawford. “Adrien has nothing to do with whatever this guy is up to and we certainly deny any and all allegations contained in this document.”
Welsh added that Broner, who is originally from Cincinnati, has been living in Florida for the past few years.
Broner, who has held multiple world titles in four different weight classes, is currently ranked as one of the best light welterweight fighters in the world. His most recent fight came against Manny Pacquiao, in January, for the WBA (Regular) welterweight title. Broner lost that bout by unanimous decision, dropping his overall record to 33-4-1 (1).
In June Broner was sued for sexual assault. The plaintiff in that case accused Broner of sexually assaulting her in a Cleveland nightclub in 2018. Broner was arrested and charged with sexual battery in February after he was accused of groping a woman in an Atlanta shopping mall. Those charges would later be dropped. In 2016 Broner was accused of choking a waitress in Las Vegas.