Docs: Former IU basketball player arrested after fraud investigation

CARMEL, Ind. — Police have arrested a former Indiana University basketball player accused of stealing nearly $50,000 in a scheme involving an amateur youth basketball team that never came to fruition.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed on Sept. 25 in Hamilton County, 54-year-old Todd Leary is facing five counts of fraud and five counts of theft. All of the preliminary charges are level 6 felonies.

Leary played under legendary coach Bob Knight from 1989 to 1994, appearing in 107 total games for Indiana. His collegiate highlight was an appearance on the 1992 Final Four team.

Investigation, arrest

An investigation into Leary was launched on May 8 when an officer with the Carmel Police Department met with an individual who accused Leary of scamming him out of nearly $50,000 for basketball lessons for his son.

The victim said he overheard Leary advertising his basketball training services for Myjumpshot.com while listening to an Indiana sports radio show. According to court documents, Leary acted as the registered agent of Basketball Training Fitness, LLC.

The victim of the alleged fraud said he contacted Leary to discuss hiring him to provide basketball training services for his son. They reached an agreement as the caller paid Leary $3,000 for training around December of last year.

After a few sessions, Leary reportedly offered a “lifetime” training deal to the victim in exchange for another $5,000. The services would focus on training the victim’s son through high school so he could prepare for college basketball.

The proposal involved paying 50% up front and the remaining balance in October 2024. Court documents show the victim agreed, paying Leary $2,500. Leary allegedly requested the second payment in July 2024, claiming his son was experiencing “legal trouble” and that he needed the money to afford attorney fees.

The other $2,500 amount was paid on July 3, 2024. The following month, court documents show that Leary suggested that he and the victim created their own AAU basketball team as opposed to finding one in the area for his son.

The plan involved two practices every week with the view of playing at least eight tournaments. In order to create this team, Leary asked the victim to provide him with a check for $5,000 on Aug. 23, 2024. He allegedly said at the time that this would help finance team creation, eight tournaments, uniforms, shoes and practice at Warren Central.

The victim said Leary confirmed his intentions to contact Criss Beyers with the Indiana Elite club to help start the team. Curt documents show that CPD followed up with Beyers, who told them that Leary never created an AAU team with Indiana Elite.

In September 2024, Leary allegedly requested $5,000 for a coaching fee, which was later paid in two installments. Leary followed this up by claiming that he planned to utilize the H&H Fieldhouse in Fishers as a practice facility. However, this would require a $4,000 check, which the victim agreed to pay.

CPD said H&H Fieldhouse confirmed that Leary had contacted them regarding a possible investment, but did not explore an AAU team or leasing the facility for practice.

More ‘investments’

In September 2024, Leary requested an additional payment of $6,000, claiming he needed it to pay the Indiana Basketball League to begin the AAU team. Leary allegedly told the victim that he would give him a $5,000 refund and that he needed the $6,000 to start the AAU team.

A follow-up with the Indiana Basketball League revealed that it never received any money from Leary.

The next month, Leary returned to the victim and requested $5,000 more to help pay attorney fees for his son. Leary then claimed that he was hired to train Purdue athletes. He then said that he was expecting a $15,000 payment from Purdue and that as soon as he received it, he would pay the victim back.

The victim said he never heard back after writing a $5,000 check. Purdue confirmed that Leary was never hired. Later that same month, Leary requested $3,000 after claiming that he had located an assistant coach for the AAU team. Leary claimed that Adam Howard, who was serving as Indiana’s assistant director of recruiting and operations at the time, agreed to become a coach.

Howard confirmed in June that Leary never discussed this assistant coach role with him, according to court documents.

In total, the victim reportedly paid a total of $48,900 for services between January 2024 and February 2025 that Leary is accused of not providing in full.

Previous theft convictions

This was not the first time Leary was at the center of a theft investigation in Indiana.

Court records show that Leary had a previous theft conviction that was filed in Hamilton County Superior Court in 2012. He also has previous convictions for conversion and misappropriation of title insurance escrow funds in 2010 out of Allen County.

“Todd still has an outstanding judgment of $294,963.37 as of July 30, 2025, related to the Allen County case,” the affidavit said.

Next steps

Online jail records indicate Leary was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on Oct. 9. He is currently being incarcerated on a $25,000 bond. Leary appeared in Hamilton Superior Court 4 on Friday afternoon for an initial hearing in the case.