MARIETTA, Ga. (AFX) - The assets of a hedge-fund manager indicted for scamming several pro football players out of millions of dollars will go up for auction later this month -- revealing a lavish lifestyle for the 35-year-old.
Kirk Wayne Wright was indicted last month in federal court on 21 counts of mail fraud and three counts of securities fraud.
Clients that Wright is charged with defrauding include former Denver Bronco and Georgia Bulldog star Terrell Davis and his pro teammates Steve Atwater, Rod Smith, Ray Crockett, Blaine Bishop and Al Smith.
Wright's mother also is among the victims he is alleged to have scammed. He is believed to have collected up to $185 million from more than 500 investors over nine years.
He was arrested in a Miami hotel room in May, after going missing for three months.
The July 28 auction of Wright's assets was ordered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
The items up for bid will include his six-bedroom lake house in Cobb County, which underwent a $1 million remodeling last year, a luxury condominium in Atlanta and an office building.
Also on the block will be a baby grand piano and vehicles including an Aston Martin, a Bentley and a 1967 BMW.
A group of current and former NFL players are suing the league and its players union, seeking to recover $20 million they lost in the scheme. The suit claims the union endorsed Wright's firm, even though he already had tax liens against him.
The players listed as plaintiffs in that suit are Atwater, Bishop, Crockett, Al Smith, New York Giants linebacker Carlos Emmons and former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Clyde Simmons.
Denver Broncos defensive lineman Marco Coleman dropped his name from the suit last week.
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© 2006 AFX News
