Giants' DeAndre Baker hit with $100K civil suit alleging he stole $74K from three men at gunpoint in Florida
Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker is now facing a $100,000 civil lawsuit from three men alleging he robbed them at gunpoint on May 13. Meanwhile, Judge Mariya Weekes has pushed the arraignment for Baker’s criminal case, with regards to the same incident, from September 15 to January 20, 2021, which is well after the 2020 NFL regular season is slated to conclude.
The 22-year-old already faces four charges of armed robbery for allegedly robbing four men at gunpoint and pushing an accomplice to shoot one of them at a gambling party in Miramar, Florida.
As reported by the New York Daily News, Baker is on the NFL's Commissioner Exempt List -- which means Baker wouldn't be able to play in the NFL this season unless he resolves his case in some other way at an earlier date. While the Giants have not released Baker or assigned another player his famous jersey No. 27, insiders told the Daily News in July that they did not expect him to remain a part of the team much longer.
That said, the new lawsuit filed in Broward County Court on Monday, August 31, includes a civil action summons requiring law enforcement agencies and Baker to supply all relevant information and a written defense respectively. All three plaintiffs have reportedly demanded a jury trial.
Each plaintiff was “in fear for his life” when Baker allegedly “brandished a gun and started threatening the partygoers” on May 13, per the suit, which adds that the Giants' cornerback robbed them of "$74,000 worth of money and jewelry — $12,500 in cash and $61,500 in watches," per the Daily News.
Baker allegedly "robbed one victim of an Audemars Piguet watch, valued at $18,500, and $4,700 in cash, totaling $23,200 in damages," per the Daily Mail, while another alleged victim "claimed his $25,000 gold Hublot watch was stolen, along with $7,000 in cash, a passport, a bag, and a key to a Range Rover."
It's unclear whether the judge delayed Baker's arraignment independently or at his defense's request. While the delay is attributed to the judge, there is reportedly no reason provided for the same.
Patrick Patel, one of Baker’s lawyers, fired back at the $100,000 civil suit. “Civil suits back up my position of extortion,’’ Patel told New York Post. “They know they are not winning a criminal case so start a civil one. Shows real intent by ‘victims’ here.’’
As of the moment, Baker is free and not in custody. Following his May 16 arrest, he posted a $200,000 bail and was released from Broward County Jail the next day. However, half of Baker's bail amount has since been discharged.
According to the Daily News, that's because Baker was initially arrested on eight counts, including four for aggravated assault with a firearm and four for armed robbery with a firearm. While the NFL star was charged a $25,000 bond for each count, he was not formally charged on the four aggravated assaults -- thereby resulting in $100,000 of his original $200,000 bond being discharged by the court.
According to Broward County State Attorney Mike Satz, who announced the original charges on August 7, Baker now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and could even get life in prison if convicted on said counts.
The Florida native was a first-round pick of the Giants in 2019. Last season, he appeared in 16 games and recorded 15 starts, 61 tackles, and eight defenses passed.