Donaghy bet on games he worked in '06-07 season, feds say

[bigboydan]

Donaghy bet on games he worked in '06-07 season, feds say

NEW YORK -- Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on about 14 games he officiated in the 2006-07 season, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Goldberg said in a letter filed Friday in Brooklyn Federal Court.

"In the Spring of 2003, Donaghy provided picks for games he refereed on only 2-3 occasions," Goldberg wrote. "Over the next three full seasons (2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006), however, Donaghy bet on numerous games that he worked.

"The government's investigation revealed that Donaghy provided picks for anywhere from 30 to 40 such games for each of those three seasons. During the 2006-2007 season, Donaghy bet on approximately 30 games, including about 14 games that he refereed."

Donaghy pleaded guilty last year to charges he conspired to engage in wire fraud and transmitted betting information through interstate commerce. The referee said he made NBA bets for four years, even wagering on games he worked. He also admitted recommending bets to high-stakes gamblers and collecting $5,000 if his picks hit.

Donaghy is scheduled to be sentenced May 22. By law, he faces up to 25 years in prison, though the term could be much lower under sentencing guidelines.

[topgame85]

and family members who don't gamble give us that crazy look when we say that was a rigged finish I remember one particular Rockets game where he called like 4 bad fouls in the last 2 minutes during 05-06 I think it was and i lost by a point and I too just thought I was paranoid what a trip

[bigboydan]

Here is a USAToday article that just came out that is interesting actually.

Lawyers: Gambling a 'drug' for ex-NBA ref Donaghy

By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who pleaded guilty last year to a betting scandal, suffers from "a pathological gambling" disorder that destroyed his career and left his personal life in shambles, his lawyers said Monday in federal court documents.

Although he faces up to 25 years in prison, defense lawyers in a 27-page letter to U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon asked that Donaghy, 42, be sentenced to probation in deference to his diagnosis and extensive cooperation with federal investigators.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 14 in Brooklyn.

"Tim Donaghy's tragic fall from grace cannot be explained without understanding the psychological demon that he lived with for many years," attorney John Lauro wrote. "Tim had a wonderful life — a successful career as a NBA referee, a happy and stable marriage and the love of four young daughters. … Yet, as so often in life, the perception of reality is far different than its actual circumstances."

Attorneys argued that Donaghy provided "valuable" information that reveals how referees' relationships with coaches and players influenced games, including one instance where "confidential information was secretly passed from another referee to a coach."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Brooklyn | Tim Donaghy | John Lauro

"The NBA allowed an environment to exist that made inside information, including knowledge of the particular officials who would work a game, valuable in connection with predicting the outcome of games," the court documents state. "Other practices prevented games from being played on a level playing field."

Donaghy allegedly provided inside information to gamblers in about 100 games, including ones he officiated, starting in 2003. He got $2,000 for each correct pick, receiving $25,000 over one four-month period.

Donaghy, his attorneys said, kept his addiction a "dark secret," and risked his own finances, once losing $30,000 day-trading on a family investment account.

"Gambling became like a drug for Tim and drew him towards increasingly greater risk situations," according to the court documents.

[topgame85]

They need to give him at least 3 years minimum don't ruin his life but you gotta make an example of him

[Bet Shooter]

The problem with this is, with all the money wagered every year on sports they need to set an example for future violators. Same shit with Pete Rose. So they are probably going to crucify him and set an example. If he hit the pipe or booted up at mid court he would have gotten a slap on the wrist. But with all that money involved....Look Out.

[topgame85]

Yah I lost money due to his shananigan's at least a few times that I can think of but I don't think he should get more than 5 if he does thats pretty extreme, 3-5 if I was the judge