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Former NBA star Marcus Morris Sr. is now out of jail after being arrested in Florida over alleged unpaid casino debts. He claims the whole situation was nothing more than a misunderstanding. He had been arrested on Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport on two outstanding warrants and had been awaiting extradition to Nevada.
The arrest warrants claimed Morris were for felony charges of drawing or passing a check for $1,200 or more with the intent to defraud and theft valued at $100,000 or more. He allegedly received $115,000 from the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas using bad checks in May 2024 and then did it again at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino the next month for $150,000, bringing the total to $265,000 worth of bad checks.
Front Office Sports reports that Marcus Morris Sr. had been denied bond at a Tuesday hearing, but was no longer listed as an inmate on Wednesday.
Following this release, Morris began a lengthy message covering six slides on Instagram, “Thank god I woke up in my bed this morning.” He also said he would be addressing the situation on camera at a later time.
Marcus Morris explains what happened
Morris added in the post’s caption, “Say what you want but FRAUD will never be something I’m apart of or wasting my time with. Them coins ain’t changing no life styles on this side. This won’t be up for long. No mistakes on my behalf just didn’t think that was possible. More of a lessoned [sic] learned. But to sit for 51 hours no bail and not even a chance to pay it back till after 2 days go by was outta pocket. 24 hour Lockdown no food or water for the whole 51 hours. That’s the part that hurt me the most.
“I’ve put my time resources into every in my life but to be treated in that manner did something to me. I’ve been enjoying my self in Vegas for 10 years plus at a high level and not just gambling if you know us. So take it how you want it. Only thing I look back on my kids and family and friends that know were I stand as a MAN that came from nothing.
“Never been a fraud or did fraud s—. I will take this moment and learn from it and take slander if that what you call it. Internet undefeated I’m not going back and forth with no one. You cant [sic] spend markers outside of the casino. No money was exchanged or taken from any casino and into my pocket. You spend that money there if you don’t know how it works.
“Last thing, I never wrote a check at any point to a casino. When u get a marker that’s considered a check which I didn’t know. We could’ve handled this MOB style in the back room at the casinos lol. But seriously though never been a FRAUD or participated in no fraud s—. Thank you to whoever in my corner you know where I stand and who I am. Social media undefeated so have at it. God has his plan for me. Me and bro will address this live today stay tuned.”