The headlines out of Baton Rouge have been overwhelmingly positive surrounding LSU given the way the Tigers have been playing in recent months but that doesn’t mean every one of them can be viewed in a positive light as we found out this week.
As reported by ESPN on Thursday, former LSU booster John Paul Funes was sentenced by a judge on Thursday to 33 months in federal prision for his involvement in an embezzlement scheme. While such illegal business dealing don’t typically make their way over to the sports page, that’s not the case in this matter as Funes pleaded guilty in the matter over the summer and reports from the city revealed that he apparently directed some $180,000 to James Alexander, who is the father of former LSU offensive lineman Vadal Alexander.
To make matters worse, the payments to the elder Alexander reportedly occurred while the younger one was a part of the team, making them a potential NCAA violation. Funes foundation that was at the center of the embezzlement case also made a $15,000 donation to LSU’s booster club according to ESPN, which was far from the only time his love for the purple and gold came up at trial.The government said Funes also used stolen money from the foundation to pay for charter flights for his family and friends, to purchase gift cards for his personal use, and to pay for tickets to sporting events.
On Dec. 31, 2017, for instance, Funes allegedly chartered a flight to take his family and friends to Tampa, Florida, to watch a New Orleans Saints game, and then from Tampa to Orlando to watch LSU play in the Citrus Bowl. The flights cost the foundation more than $14,000.LSU said in June that they had notified NCAA officials of the details in the case and were working on an investigation into the matter. There hasn’t been anything said publicly on any potential outcomes or findings from that investigation but it sure seems like there will be more coming out about the story in the future after Funes was thrown behind bars on Thursday.
