Donaghy sentenced to 15 months in prison
NEW YORK (AP) - July 29, 2008 The sentencing in Brooklyn federal court culminated a case that
hung over the league throughout the season and even into the NBA
finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. League
commissioner David Stern angrily denied Donaghy's claim that
corruption among referees goes beyond him.
Donaghy's lawyer asked the judge for probation. Donaghy had
faced up to 33 months in prison, but the judge gave him credit for
his cooperation.
Folding his arms but showing no other emotion, the 41-year-old
Donaghy apologized to the court. "I brought shame on myself and my
family," he said.
Donaghy pleaded guilty last August to conspiracy to engage in
wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate
commerce for taking payoffs from a professional gambler for inside
tips on games.
Last week, two of Donaghy's former high school classmates were
sentenced to over a year in prison for their roles in the scheme.
James Battista, a professional gambler and admitted drug addict,
got 15 months in prison for making bets based on inside tips.
Thomas Martino, the scheme's middleman, was sentenced to a year and
one day for paying the referee thousands of dollars for the tips.
The three men attended school together in Springfield, Pa.
The league had demanded nearly $1.4 million in restitution. But
the judge last week set the restitution at $217,266, to be paid
jointly by the three defendants.
