Michigan has officially reacted to the charges against Ed Martin which were unsealed this morning in U.S. District Court in Detroit. The federal charges against Martin involve him running an illegal gambling business, conspiracy and money laundering.

They involve U-M because of the revelation, now much more specific, that Martin paid four Michigan basketball players in excess of $600,000 during their high school and college careers.

According to the indictment, Chris Webber received roughly $280,000 from 1988 to 1993; Robert Traylor received $160,000 from 1994 to 1998; Maurice Taylor received $105,000 from Sept. 1995 until Jan. 1998; and Louis Bullock received $71,000 from 1995-1999.

A statement released by U-M Vice President and General Counsel Marvin Krislov states the following:

"We have just received a copy of the indictment. Our top priority has been to get to the truth and that continues to be our objective.

"The allegations in the indictment involve events occurring many years ago. We have been cooperating with federal agencies, with the NCAA and with the Big Ten for the past five years. We have conducted multiple investigations, and those investigations have led to a number of corrective actions in order to strengthen our compliance and to ensure that our programs meet the highest standards of integrity.

"The federal government has available to it a number of investigative tools, including the power of the subpoena and the grand jury, so it is not surprising that a federal investigation would result in more information than what the University was able to obtain through our own voluntary inquiries. As we learn more, we will determine what additional investigation, if any, should be conducted. We will consult with the NCAA and others in making this decision."

U-M coach Tommy Amaker said, concerning the indictment: "We have been made aware of today's developments. As far as we are concerned, these matters are in the past, and we will continue to move forward. We are committed to building the Michigan basketball program the right way."