ESPN has identified and named the memorabilia dealer in the Todd Gurley investigation as Bryan Allen of Villa Rica, Georgia.
Atlanta attorney Ed Garland has been hired by Bryan Allen, and Garland confirmed that to ESPN.
“I do represent Bryan Allen,” Garland said. “He’s not going to be making any statements. Really, I have nothing else to say.”
Todd Gurley was suspended indefinitely by UGA on Thursday after allegations arose that he signed items for memorabilia dealers in return for payment.
The amount of money Gurley received is speculated to be anywhere from $400 to over $10,000. NCAA rules stipulate that Gurley would face a potential one-game suspension if he accepted improper benefits ranging from $100 to $400. The penalty would increase to two games for benefits from $400 to $700, and to four games for amounts greater than $700.
ESPN also reported that they received the same email from Bryan Allen that SBNation received on Sept. 30. Here is more info on that from ESPN:
On Sept. 30, Allen, whose last known address was in Villa Rica, Georgia, sent an email to ESPN and several other media outlets, in which he claimed to possess “video of Todd Gurley doing a private autograph signing from last [March].”
Allen included his name in the email and a cell phone number that was recently issued to him.
“He has been paid thousands of dollars for his stuff over the last 18 months,” Allen wrote in the email. “I personally paid him for the signing on the video. I have bought and sold game used equipment from him.”
In the email, Allen claimed he didn’t want to be compensated for releasing the video or photos of Gurley signing memorabilia. A photo Allen attached to the Sept. 30 email shows an African-American male, who closely resembles Gurley, signing a mini UGA helmet inside a car. The man is shown autographing the helmet with his left hand; Gurley is left-handed.
Allen wrote in the email that he recently sold the mini helmet on his eBay store and that the video didn’t “show the money exchange.”
“All I ask for is privacy,” Allen wrote. “I live [in] Georgia and would be crucified if my name was released.”
Attempts to reach Allen on Friday were unsuccessful. A woman who answered the phone at one of his last known addresses said he no longer lived there, but would get a message to him. A couple of hours later, a man called an ESPN.com reporter’s phone from a blocked telephone number advised the reporter to contact Garland.
A source familiar with the investigation confirmed that Allen once owned a sports memorabilia store near Rome, Georgia, which closed within the last year.
UPDATE
Bryan Allen used to own a memorabilia store in Rome, Georgia called “Players.”
Also, BassinDawg on Twitter discovered a video of him on YouTube:
View Comments (41)
And there's a man who needs to move far away from the SEC
You said it!
It is utterly amazing that everything seems to 'hit the fan' when a player is considered for a Heisman trophy or some other award! If the folks that seem to pick their timing just so were to come forward immediately, it would be one thing. But no, they must wait until the player has some notoriety before they begin baying like hounds. They lose most of their credibility with their timing. How long has Bryan Allen been playing this game and why, oh why, did he decide to video the alleged transaction?
If Gurley has violated NCAA rules, then the NCAA should do whatever it decides appropriate. However, I think that anyone who raises the alarm well after the fact should have some consequences as well.
Thank you for publishing Mr. Allen's name. One doesn't need to harass the man; one doesn't need to buy from him, either!
It's not true that could have been me with the dreads signing stuff he just trying to get paid
What a rat he sells the stuff and then rats the kid out this guy is a real POS!!!!!!!!!!!!
he need to be put out of business and brought up on the square at uga and let people see what a scumbag really looks like. scumbag piece of dog crap
Bet you want catch him at another UGA game!!!!!!
What a lowdown piece of crap you are. You vultures prey on college athletes that 100% of their time is spent with school, practice, games, etc. There is no time to work, so unless they come from well to do families, they don't have much money. For what reason other than personal gain would you want to harm such a great athlete and team. Was your memorabilia not making you enough money? Did you need some free publicity? You are a POS!
Sherry Massey Well stated, go girl!!!!!!
Very interesting that Mr. Allen has already hired an attorney
Why would Allen do that to Gurley? He already had what he wanted. Oh wait, he graduated from the University of Florida.
Find him.
That's a low rent piece of shit. Then he runs to a lawyer. What good is a lawyer going to do you? Piece of shit. Sounds like you tried to black mail TG? The video, etc. You wanted or had something to hold over his head. Yeah, you're not a GA fan anymore, actually there's not a sport base out there that would want you as a fan. I mean seriously dude. Why in the hell would you do something like this? All I can say is "Run Forrest Run, and keep running". You are now a "Not Wanted Man" Theres just more to this. You're still a low life POS!!!
I think so too! Todd Gurley is a fine young man and this is a disgrace. My pray is he weathers the storm and may God bless him.