Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers charged with tampering amid sports gambling probe

Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers is charged with tampering with records relating to the Iowa division of criminal investigation's investigation into sports gambling, Iowa court records show.

Dekkers committed the alleged aggravated misdemeanor offense on Nov. 7, 2021. The Story County Attorney's Office filed the criminal complaint Tuesday against Dekkers. The attorney's office also filed tampering charges -- related to the gambling investigation -- against two other current and one former Cyclones athlete.

Court records show that sophomore wrestler Paniro Johnson and sophomore offensive lineman Dodge Sauser were the other current athletes charged. Former Iowa State defensive lineman Enyi Uwazurike also faces a complaint of tampering in relation to the investigation.

All of those charged are accused of manipulating transactions to attempt to show their bets were made by other people. Dekkers denied criminal wrongdoing in a statement issued through his attorney. He is scheduled for an Aug. 16 initial court appearance.

"Hunter Dekkers denies the criminal charge brought against him," attorney Mark E. Weinhardt said. "He will plead not guilty to that charge because he is in fact not guilty of that charge."

NCAA rules prohibit athletes or athletic employees from gambling on any sport at any level, and from sharing information for sports gambling purposes.

Court documents, obtained by The Athletic, WHO13 and the Des Moines Register show that Dekkers and his parents were involved in a "scheme," which allowed the starting quarterback to "disguise his identity" and "manipulate online/mobile transactions" as a way to "create the appearance that sports wagers transactions" were made by his mother at a DraftKings sportsbook.

The complaint states that Dekkers was 20 years old when he used the platform. He is being accused of making 366 bets from his personal phone on mobile/online platforms, totaling $2,799. The complaint states that more than two dozen bets were placed on Iowa State sporting events.

Iowa State and Iowa announced in May that gaming officials were investigating 41 student-athletes on allegations of prohibited online sports gambling. Iowa said that 26 student-athletes from baseball, men's basketball, men's track and field, men's wrestling and football -- and an athletic department employee -- were included in that probe.

Iowa State said it notified the NCAA that "approximately 15" athletes from football, wrestling and track and field faced gambling allegations.

Iowa State said Tuesday it was still in the process of "gathering information" related to the matter.

"This investigation has gone on since May, when DCI agents executed a search warrant at Hunter's apartment in Ames (Iowa) and another at his family's home in northwest Iowa," Weinhardt said. "The investigation has been an immense distraction from Hunter's ability to be a good student and a great teammate.

"Hunter greatly appreciates the cooperation and support of Iowa State University and coach Matt Campbell and his staff during these events. "So he can focus on his studies and on the defense of this criminal charge, Hunter has informed the University and the coaching staff that he cannot participate in fall football camp."

Dekkers, 22, completed 66.1% of his throws for 3,044 yards, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 12 games last season for the 4-8 Cyclones. He was expected to start again this season. Redshirt freshman Rocco Becht, freshman J.J. Kohl, junior Tanner Hughes and freshman Wyatt Bohm are the other quarterbacks on the Cyclones roster.

The Cyclones will face Northern Iowa in their season opener Sept. 2 in Ames.