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Former NBA player’s restaurant auctioned off while he sits in prison Former NBA player’s restaurant auctioned off while he sits in prison
(about 7 hours later)
The popular nightspot once owned by former NBA player and convicted felon Jason Miskiri is now in new hands.The popular nightspot once owned by former NBA player and convicted felon Jason Miskiri is now in new hands.
On Wednesday, the Society Restaurant and Lounge in Silver Spring, Md., was auctioned off for $500,000 to a bidder whose name was not immediately disclosed, according to Sarah Rodriguez, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.On Wednesday, the Society Restaurant and Lounge in Silver Spring, Md., was auctioned off for $500,000 to a bidder whose name was not immediately disclosed, according to Sarah Rodriguez, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The restaurant was seized by federal agents when Miskiri, 40, pleaded guilty last April to drug trafficking, admitting to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Miskiri told investigators that the restaurant was established with proceeds from his drug business.The restaurant was seized by federal agents when Miskiri, 40, pleaded guilty last April to drug trafficking, admitting to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Miskiri told investigators that the restaurant was established with proceeds from his drug business.
[Ex-basketball star Jason Miskiri sentenced to two years in prison for drug trafficking][Ex-basketball star Jason Miskiri sentenced to two years in prison for drug trafficking]
The money from the auction will be used to pay off the approximately $100,000 debt owed by the restaurant, and the remainder will be sent to the Treasury Forfeiture Fund at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Rodriguez said.The money from the auction will be used to pay off the approximately $100,000 debt owed by the restaurant, and the remainder will be sent to the Treasury Forfeiture Fund at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Rodriguez said.
Miskiri’s restaurant had remained open after his arrest and guilty plea. It was run by a management company contracted by Homeland Security Investigations, the ICE’s investigative arm. Miskiri’s restaurant had remained open after his arrest and guilty plea. It was run by a management company contracted by Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s investigative arm.
ICE agent Andre Watson said Wednesday that Miskiri’s restaurant was built on a corrupt foundation made possible only by ill-gotten gains. The auction, he said, “shows the culmination of a successful investigation.”ICE agent Andre Watson said Wednesday that Miskiri’s restaurant was built on a corrupt foundation made possible only by ill-gotten gains. The auction, he said, “shows the culmination of a successful investigation.”
Miskiri was a star basketball player at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and later played for a George Mason University team that went to the NCAA tournament. His arrest and conviction shocked many friends, former teammates and coaches. Miskiri was a star basketball player at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and later played for a George Mason University team that went to the NCAA tournament. He had a very short stint playing with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
Miskiri’s arrest and conviction shocked many friends, former teammates and coaches.
“I was kind of in disbelief,” Jim Larranaga, who coached Miskiri at George Mason, told The Post last year. “There must be something wrong with this story. He’s not the kind of young man who would ever let himself get involved in these matters.”“I was kind of in disbelief,” Jim Larranaga, who coached Miskiri at George Mason, told The Post last year. “There must be something wrong with this story. He’s not the kind of young man who would ever let himself get involved in these matters.”
Miskiri was sentenced in December to two years in prison and three years probation for his role in the $12 million drug ring.Miskiri was sentenced in December to two years in prison and three years probation for his role in the $12 million drug ring.
“My conduct is inexcusable,” Miskiri tearfully told the judge at his sentencing hearing. “I truly regret what I did. The actions I’ve taken betrayed everything that I have ever attempted to accomplish. I’m embarrassed that I let so many people down.”“My conduct is inexcusable,” Miskiri tearfully told the judge at his sentencing hearing. “I truly regret what I did. The actions I’ve taken betrayed everything that I have ever attempted to accomplish. I’m embarrassed that I let so many people down.”