Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher announced on Friday that junior receiver Da'Vante Phillips had been suspended from the team indefinitely after it was discovered he was facing five felonies.
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Jimbo Fisher announces that #FSU junior WR Da’Vante Phillips has been indefinitely suspended from the team . #Alabama
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) August 4, 2017
Details of what exactly those felonies entail have emerged, via the Orlando Sentinel.
According to the report, Phillips has been charged with four felon counts of cashing or depositing items with intent to defraud and one felony count of grand theft more than $300 and less than $5,000. He turned himself in Friday morning and posted bond.
"The fraud investigation began after Phillips called FSU police to file a report for his stolen wallet on Feb. 23, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Orlando Sentinel on Friday.
According to the report, Phillips altered the amount of four Western Union checks for $700 each and deposited $2,800 into his bank account at an ATM in mid-January. The initial amounts on the checks were for $485.89.
"Phillips was identified in Publix security camera footage, wearing the same clothes and identified by his hair during the ATM transaction. He tried to conceal his identity while making the ATM deposit, but was seen walking in front of the camera leaving after the transaction.
When contacting the officer for his wallet, Phillips handed a receipt for 14 transactions from his bank account. He told the officer his wallet was lost in January. The officer then visited SunTrust Bank and Publix, making the connection between the original Western Union check amounts and the checks deposited in Phillips' account."
The junior from Miami was expected to be a serious contributor in the receiving corps after appearing in 19 games previously and only recording five catches. It seems that dream may not come to fruition if these felony charges become more than that.
Phillips had been participating in preseason practices for FSU before the suspension.
He's a former four-star recruit and was ranked the No. 11 wideout in the country coming out of high school.
