Chris Carlson / AP

A federal investigation into extortion claims by former USC running back Reggie Bush and his family revealed the existence of taped conversations, a report said Wednesday.

Former USC star Reggie Bush was involved earlier and more deeply than previously reported in efforts to create a sports marketing agency that has been the focus of lingering controversy, according to lawyers for disgruntled partners in the failed venture.

The lawyers told the Los Angeles Times it was Bush, along with his stepfather, LaMar Griffin, who proposed the agency as a way for the Heisman Trophy winner to avoid paying a percentage of his earnings to an established agent when he turned professional.

The NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference are investigating whether Bush violated rules of amateurism. If that is proved, USC could forfeit victories spanning two highly successful seasons and Bush could be forced to surrender his Heisman.

Attorney Brian Watkins told the Times his client, Lloyd Lake, one of the agency's partners, planned to cooperate with collegiate investigators.

According to Watkins, Bush was at several early meetings of the agency's founders and was active in pushing the idea of creating New Era Sports & Entertainment. Bush later introduced USC teammates to New Era backers Lake and Michael Michaels, the attorney said.

"But for him [Bush], this business venture wouldn't get off the ground," Watkins told the Times. "What do you think? LaMar could never start a sports agency. He's a high school security guard. No one's going to get behind that business venture."

Michaels' attorney, Jordan Cohen, told the paper Bush was "a founding member" of the sports agency, whose "presence would then attract additional athletes to sign with the firm." Bush and his stepfather wanted "to keep money within the family," Cohen said. "In order for that plan to work, they needed financing." All of the initial funding for New Era came from Michaels and Lake, the lawyers said.

Michaels and Lake alleged a year ago that they had provided cash to Bush's family, as well as a home for which the family had failed to pay more than $50,000 in rent, according to Watkins. The conflict became public after Bush had signed with another sports agent.

Bush, now with New Orleans Saints, has repeatedly stated that neither he nor his family did anything wrong.

A federal grand jury in San Diego was investigating allegations by Bush lawyer David Cornwell that Lake tried to extort money from his client.

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This week, The Times and Yahoo.com reported that Lake previously tape-recorded conversations in which Bush and his stepfather allegedly acknowledge receiving cash and gifts.

Cohen told the paper that in researching the case he had found "no information or indication that USC had actual knowledge of any of this."

"We're not looking to damage USC, we're not looking to implicate Reggie Bush in any NCAA violations," Cohen said. "This is a business dispute, nothing more."

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