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Man allegedly scammed Miami Heat players

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A witness says a former Ohio man accused of operating a multimillion real-estate fraud also ripped off Miami Heat basketball players.

The testimony came Thursday in Columbus. The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/155zBH2) reports a federal judge denied bond to 35-year-old Haider Zafar because he is a flight risk.

Zafar, now of southern Florida, is awaiting trial on wire fraud and other charges. Prosecutors say Zafar allegedly swindled a businessman out of $10 million. The basketball players are not part of this suit.

Zafar's attorney says they will continue to challenge the charges.

The witness, international-investment attorney Andrew Fine, said some Heat players, including former forward Mike Miller, and other Florida residents invested $8 million with Zafar.

The other players are forward Rashard Lewis and guard James Jones, a person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press.

The person requested anonymity because it is an active investigation.