Ryan Wolfe Freshman wide receiver under suspension from team

Standout wide receiver Ryan Wolfe is one of eight individuals with ties to UNLV athletics who probably will be charged in connection with the theft of about $5,000 in merchandise from an Abercrombie & Fitch store last fall, a source in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Thursday.

The source, who did not want his name used because the investigation is still open, said linebacker KC Asiodu, wide receiver Marques Johnson and former defensive back Chris Hollermeier also are expected to be charged, along with wide receiver Channing Trotter, who allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent sales. According to the source, track team sprinters Lekeisha Lawson and Ernestine Johnson and cheerleader Rachel Ludwig also are likely to be charged.

Police Sgt. Loren Apier confirmed eight will be charged but mentioned only Trotter by name, calling him "the main player." The initial police report, which also named Johnson, stated that Trotter, a sales clerk at the store, would ring up one item and remove anti-theft sensors from the other pieces. Trotter told police he performed this type of transaction about 10 times.

Apier said charges will not be brought against any suspects for at least two weeks because police are awaiting grand jury subpoenas to investigate bank records and complete the investigation.

"They are all going to be charged," Apier said. "We just need to tighten it up. We would've been done with this a long time ago, but they've been less than cooperative at Abercrombie & Fitch."

The Abercrombie & Fitch store at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, where the alleged thefts took place, referred media questions to the corporate headquarters in New Albany, Ohio. However, attempts to reach someone for comment there Thursday were unsuccessful.

All six current UNLV athletes are under suspension, and football coach Mike Sanford said he would have to wait to see how the matter plays out with police and the courts before taking any possible further action with his players.

"We in no way condone this," Sanford said. "This is not something we want associated with the program, and I am very upset about it."

An attempt to reach track coach Barbara Ferrell-Edmonson was unsuccessful.

Wolfe is the most notable name among those allegedly involved. He was named a first-team Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and a second-teamer by Sporting News, College Football News and Scout.com.

If Wolfe is suspended into next season, it would be a big blow for the Rebels. He led the Mountain West Conference with 75.9 yards receiving per game, and his 911 yards broke the league's freshman record of 771 set by Brigham Young's Austin Collie in 2004.

Asiodu started six games, finishing with 35 tackles. Johnson was a reserve wide receiver who did not catch a pass. Hollermeier played just one season, in 2005.