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The Giants cut the 23-year-old cornerback in
September following his offseason arrest for allegedly
participating in an armed robbery at a house party in Miramar,
Fla.
On Monday, an attorney representing three of the four alleged
victims in the case was arrested in Broward County (Fla.) on
extortion charges. Investigators say William Dean wanted Baker
to pay his clients $266,000 each and, in exchange, they would
stop cooperating with police or change their initial sworn
statements, according to the New York Daily News.
Dean told Baker's attorney his clients would do "anything you
want, so long as the money is right," per the report.
After Dean's arrest, the Broward State Attorney's Office told
reporters that all charges against Baker were being dropped.
"I've been saying this from Day 1, that this was an extortion
scheme and that Deandre was the victim," Baker's attorney,
Bradford Cohen, told NFL Network on Monday. "This event did not
play out as they insinuated. And the case was dismissed."
Baker is now eligible to sign with an NFL team, league spokesman
Brian McCarthy told NFL Network.
"We have been monitoring all developments in the matter which
remains under review of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy. Baker
remains subject to discipline based on results of that
investigation," the league said, per NFL Network.
Baker, the 30th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, did not take part in
the Giants' offseason program or attend training camp. He was
placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list on July 27 and formally
charged on Aug. 7 with four counts of robbery with a firearm
stemming from the alleged incident on May 13.
Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar were
accused of taking money and watches from partygoers while they
were armed with semiautomatic weapons. Baker also allegedly made
threats with a firearm.
Prosecutors declined to continue the case against Dunbar, who
remains on the Seattle roster.
In 2019, Baker played in all 16 games as a rookie and started
each of the final 15 contests. He finished with 61 tackles (48
solo) and eight passes defensed.
--Field Level Media
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