COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A tattoo parlor owner whose purchase of Ohio State football memorabilia triggered an NCAA investigation of the school has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
The federal charges against Edward Rife don’t directly involve Ohio State, but the university first learned of the memorabilia sales through the federal investigation into Rife.
Football coach Jim Tressel resigned after it emerged he had known of his players’ involvement with Rife and didn’t report it to the NCAA or his superiors for more than nine months.
Tressel won a national championship and seven Big Ten titles at Ohio State.
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Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached at http://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.
