A former USC walk-on tight end and a former NFL running back are among 22 people who have been charged in what authorities are calling a massive international drug smuggling ring not afraid to use threats and coercion to get what it wanted.
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Authorities have alleged that former USC athlete Owen Hanson ran the massive conspiracy, and also allege former NFL running back Derek Loville —- who played for three teams in an eight-season career —- was one of Hanson's distributors. The massive, complex operation has connections in Mexico and Australia, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Times reported:
Led by Owen Hanson, who was a USC athlete more than a decade ago, the "ODOG" operations used violence and threatened customers into paying off debts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego. Hanson, who went by "O-Dog," was arrested in September at a golf course in Carlsbad.
And this is an Arizona News report about Loville:
Authorities claim the operation has its tentacles in various gambling operations and threatened gamblers and their families if debts were not repaid. The operation laundered its money through various shell companies, authorities claim.
Hanson's lawyer told the LA Times he client is innocent.
