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O.J. Mayo’s Former Agent Owns Some Questionable Property

In almost 6 years of operating this website (our 6th year anniversary is December 31), I have only covered sports agent LaPoe “Smitty” Smith Jr. a total of 1 time – in reference to O.J. Mayo signing with Smith for representation.  Mayo signed with Smith after firing Leon Rose of Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  After publishing this post, I was reminded that Mayo is no longer with Smith.  He is now represented by Rob Pelinka of Landmark Sports Agency.

Why has Smith once again appeared on our radar?  A couple of days ago, the San Antonio Express-News reported that federal authorities are trying to seize California property owned by Smith because there appeared to be marijuana on the property.  Further,

“the federal government contends that Smith sent, or had someone send, numerous money orders, bank and cashier’s checks to buy the five parcels of property, which cost a total of more than $161,000.

The money orders and checks were bought in increments under $10,000, the feds allege, adding that it has the hallmarks of money laundering.”

It gets worse.  The San Antonio Express-News also states that former NBA player Antoine Walker, who has been arrested in the past based on charges related to owing over $800,000 in gambling debts, has informed Internal Revenue Service agents that from 2005-2009, Smith failed to report roughly $600,000 in gambling winnings to the IRS.

It is safe to say that LaPoe Smith has a lot more than the NBA Lockout on his mind.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.