When asked whether he participated in Owen Hanson’s drug or gambling ring, Shockey said, “I’m a straight businessman. I don’t hang out with drug dealers.”
Former NFL tight end Jeremy Shockey has been questioned by federal authorities in relation to the illegal gambling ring arrest of Owen Hanson. Owen Hanson is the former USC Trojans player who was arrested in September 2015 for running an illegal multi-million dollar gambling and drug ring.
Twenty-three other people, including former Niners running back Derek Loville, have been arrested in connection to the same crime ring.
Owen Hanson’s criminal enterprise, Odog Enterprises, has received attention in the New York Post and Los Angeles Times for the terror tactics it used. One victim alleges Odog Enterprises sent a videotape of two men being beheaded as a warning to do as Hanson said.
The same victim, named only Robin Hood 702, accused Owen Hanson of donning a mask and desecrating the victim’s parent’s graves. Robin Hood 702 claims that was when he went to federal authorities, touching off a wave of investigations and arrests.
NFL Contacts included Shockey and Reggie Bush
Now the FBI is investigating all of Owen Hanson’s contacts, including NFL stars like Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush. Owen Hanson was a USC Trojan at the same time as Reggie Bush, explaining their friendship.
Jeremy Shockey claims he did nothing wrong. While he says he knew Owen Hanson, the Oklahoma-born Shockey says he never knew the man beyond sharing the same social scene. Jeremy Shockey, who was a star for the Miami Hurricanes prior to being drafted by the New York Giants, said he met Hanson at a party in Las Vegas.
Met at a Las Vegas Pool Party
Jeremy Shockey said, “We met when I passed out at a pool party in Vegas — from dehydration. He came to Miami all the time. I treated him like a friend. I let him stay at my house. He loved to surf. We’d go to the gym together. We went to the same parties together.”
The 35-year old Shockey — who played 10 NFL seasons with the Giants, Saints, and Panthers — said he knew Owen Hanson as a rich and well-connected member of the NFL social scene. The two-time Super Bowl winner and four-time Pro Bowler said he never suspected Hanson was involved in criminal activities. Shockey thought the man was rich from a legitimate business.
“A Very Smart, Nice Guy”
Shockey recently told the New York Post Owen Hanson was well-connected, and seemed like a natural in the scene. Shockey added, “I thought he was a very smart, nice guy. He was single. He was so cool. He was on the phone all the time. He knew everybody — DJs, celebrities. Pete Carroll knows him. Reggie Bush knows him; they were teammates at USC.”
The former tight end, who retired from the NFL after the 2011-12 season, said Hanson had obvious wealth. Shockey said, “This guy had money. He had cash on him all the time. But I thought it was from his business. No one knew any of this s–t was going on.”
Trips to Costa Rica and Los Angeles
The federal investigators came recently to discuss with Shockey his long relationship with Owen Hanson. The two men took a trip to Costa Rica together in 2010. They also frequently flew together back-and-forth from Los Angeles to Miami, where Shockey presently resides. Shockey said, despite the appearance of a close relationship, they never talked business. He said, like everyone else among the NFL circle, no one knew about the drug dealing and the bookie activities.
Shockey told the NY Post, “I thought he was in the real-estate business like me. I’m a straight businessman. I don’t hang out with drug dealers or prostitutes. I’m here with my girlfriend making out, and I get a knock on my door from these agents. I said to them, ‘Come on in. I got nothing to hide.’”
The former four-star athlete from Ada, Oklahoma said he was never into the vices Owen Hanson peddled. Shockey copped to vices, when he said, “I’m a drunk — I’m Irish. I’ve never had anything to do with drugs. And I would never do anything illegal to jeopardize what I’ve worked for.”
Identified “Tank” Brandolini
Jeremy Shockey related how his questioning with the FBI went. He said the FBI officers showed him a picture of two men. He said he did not recognize one of the men. The other, he recognized as “Tank” — a notorious figure in the investigations.
Shockey said of the photograph, “It showed a white guy I didn’t know. The other guy, Tank, I know through Owen.”
The man he recognized was Giovanni “Tank” Brandolino, who was arrested in Brooklyn in the same investigation in October 2015.
NFL Player Still under Investigation
An NFL player has been identified among those still accused, but apparently walking free on the streets. Brandolini sent 5 grams of cocaine and 15 capsules of ecstasy to a “pro-football player located in Nashville, Tennessee.” on November 17, 2014. That same night, the Tennessee Titans hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in Nashville.
The Post has tried to get the name of that NFL player, but has been unable to collect the information. Apparently, the New York newspaper made calls to the US Attorney’s Office in San Diego, NFL headquarters, and the FBI. No one would give the name.
Derek Loville Arrest
The one NFL player arrested so far is Derek Loville, who led the San Francisco 49ers in rushing yards in 1995. Loville played 8 seasons in the NFL and was a member of the 1994-95 Niners team which one the Super Bowl. He also claims he was a dupe in the crime ring.
When asked about his connection to Owen Hanson, Loville struck a chord similar to Jeremy Shockey’s. Loville, who stands accused of drug running, said, “You have friends, people you know but you don’t necessarily investigate every aspect of their lives, and I’ll just leave it at that.”
