Former USD basketball player pleads not guilty
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A well-known former University of San Diego basketball player has made an appearance in federal court in a sports bribery case.
USD's all-time leading scorer Brandon Johnson pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday, then returned home to Houston. He is free on a $25,000 bond and was appointed a local public defender, Oliver Cleary. Johnson was arrested without incident April 9 in Houston.
The indictment alleges that Johnson took a bribe to influence a USD game in February 2010 and solicited someone else this January to affect the outcome of USD basketball games while playing for the Dakota Wizards, an NBA development team.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He is one of 10 defendants in the marijuana distribution and sports gambling case. Each faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.