By Nick Veronica

Niagara’s All-Rookie selection Dominique Reid is reportedly on a leave from the team after being charged with multiple felonies in connection with fraud cases against First Niagara bank.

Reid

According to the Niagara Gazette, Reid was charged with crimes on three separate occasions during his freshman season.

In October, Reid was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. The Buffalo News reported it was an “alcohol-related charge.”

The Gazette next reported that two months into the season (perhaps December), Reid was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony. He apparently made claims that his own account had been compromised and received more than $1,000 from First Niagara before the bank determined that his claims were false.

The third and most serious brush with the law reportedly came in April, when Reid was hit with charges of second-degree identity theft and fourth-degree grand larceny, both felonies. The Gazette wrote that Reid “managed to steal the bank account coding information for a local municipality” and then “gave the account information to his creditors, who then debited the municipal bank account.”

Reid was not disciplined with playing time during the season, appearing in all 30 games. He scored 9.8 points per game and averaged 5.9 rebounds, good for second and third on the team.

The 6-foot-8 Erial, N.J. native was set to take on an even bigger role this season, with Niagara losing seven players to transfer. A Niagara spokesman did not immediately respond to an IAGS inquiry but told the Gazette, “The university is aware of proceedings involving student-athlete Dominique Reid.”

Here’s an updated list of Niagara’s returning players, arranged by 2014-15 scoring:

Emile Blackman – Still on scholarship (1)
Ramone Snowden – Transfer
Dominique Reid – On leave from team
Wesley Myers – Transfer
Karonn Davis – Still on scholarship (2)
Rayvon Harris – Transfer
Matt Scott – Still on scholarship (3)
James Suber – Transfer
Julian Richardson – Transfer
Cameron Fowler – Still on scholarship (4)
DayJar Dickson – Transfer
Anders Skou Hansen – Left mid-season
Thomas Fleming – Still on team, walk-on
David Varoli – Still on team, walk-on

Coach Chris Casey has brought in a handful of new recruits for the 2015-16 season, most recently getting a commit from Long Island Lutheran’s Marvin Prochet.

More on this story as it develops.