7 Gators take step for felony fraud charge dismissal

Seven suspended Florida players, including standout receiver Antonio Callaway, agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program that could result in the dismissal of felony credit card fraud charges.

The players will required to make restitution and apply with other requirements for the charges to be formally dropped.

Joining Callaway in the program are running back Jordan Scarlett, receiver Rick Wells, defensive linemen Keivonnis Davis and Richerd Desir-Jones and linebackers James Houston and Ventrell Miller. According to police, each of the seven made one charge with a stolen credit card number for value ranging between $500 and $2,000.

Two other suspended Florida players remain under investigation. Offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort is reportedly facing up to 30 felony charges and defensive end Jordan Smith is facing five.

Police say Telfort and Smith each made fraudulent charges to multiple credit card accounts.

Entering the intervention program doesn’t get Callaway and the others close to returning to the field. The seven will have to face the university’s Student Code of Conduct Committee for potential punishment before a return to practice can occur.

“We’ve been made aware of some updates in the legal process and there are still steps to go that include the university student conduct code,” Florida coach Jim McElwain said in a statement.