The attorneys representing New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker expected armed robbery charges against him to be dropped by the time training camp opens, but that no longer appears to be in the cards.
In fact, it’s uncertain whether Florida prosecutors will formally charge Baker and his alleged accomplice, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar. Police in Miramar, Florida, said Baker and Dunbar held guests at a party at gunpoint and robbed them of cash and luxury watches on May 13.
The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that the Broward County State Attorney’s Office is still determining how to proceed with the case. According to the report, no date has been set for a decision.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office has not yet decided whether to press charges against Dunbar and Baker. A Broward prosecutor on Monday said no date has been set for a decision.
“This investigation has more turns and twists than a Barry Sanders highlight reel,” prosecutor Alex Urruela told the court. “As evidence keeps coming in, evaluations change.”
The already strange case took an even more strange turn earlier this month when Dunbar’s attorney Michael Grieco stepped away from the case after it was alleged that four victims were paid $55,000 to recant their statements at his downtown Miami office.
Police are investigating whether the purported payoffs — which were allegedly set up by Dominic “Coach” Johnson, a witness to the robbery — amount to witness tampering.
Baker’s lawyers claim they were aware of the alleged payoff scheme and had informed both local police and FBI of the ongoings. During that time, Baker was actively messaging Johnson, but doing so from inside his attorneys Florida home.
“[Brad] Cohen and I reported to the FBI and to the detective what was going on; the detective triangulated Mr. Baker’s phone to my house in Fort Lauderdale, where it was myself, Brad, and DeAndre texting Johnson, and the reason we did that was simple,” Patrick Patel told WFAN. “If there’s a hostage situation and they call you, you don’t say, ‘Hang up the phone.’ What do you say? ‘Where are you, how much, give me proof of life, give me information.’ The text messages going from Baker to Johnson were to solicit the information of the extortionists. We knew they were going to Grieco’s office, because that’s what was told to us, and we reported that. Never did Baker, nor his attorneys, pay the extortionists any money, and the reason we didn’t is because we didn’t need the affidavits.”
The Giants have told Baker to remain away from the team until his case is resolved.
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