FBI joins Michigan Police investigation into fired Michigan football assistant Matt Weiss

The University of Michigan Police Department told the Free Press on Thursday that it has been working with the FBI “for months” to investigate the computer case involving Matt Weiss, the former co-offensive coordinator of the Michigan football team.

“The University of Michigan Police Department has been working with the FBI in connection with the Matt Weiss unauthorized computer access incident,” police said in an email Thursday.

“The investigation is currently extensive and of the highest priority. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.”

The FBI and Michigan State Police jointly investigated Weiss, who was fired by athletic director Warde Manuel in January. He was not arrested.

Weiss was initially placed on leave and then fired after Michigan Police received a “report of computer access crimes” that occurred at Schembechler Hall from Dec. 21 to Dec. 23. According to Michigan Police logs, a university employee notified police of the incident on Jan. 5, and numerous reports have surfaced of police officers being seen in marked and unmarked vehicles outside Weiss’ Ann Arbor home several days later.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that an outside investigative firm contacted the NCAA last week after finding videos and files outlining a plan to steal game tokens that is at the center of the recent controversy surrounding the Michigan football team.

Melissa Overton, deputy police chief for the state of Michigan, said the investigation into Weiss was “in no way related to the allegation of sign theft.”

According to findings submitted by the company to the NCAA on Oct. 17, suspended Michigan employee Connor Stalions, the central figure in the alleged operation, enlisted the help of several others in the plot, which cost nearly $15,000 this season, the report said.

The NCAA notified Michigan and the Big Ten last week that an investigation had been launched. ESPN reported Thursday that NCAA investigators were in Ann Arbor this week to look into the sign-stealing case.

This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: FBI joins Michigan Police investigation into fired assistant Matt Weiss