Ex-NBA referee Donaghy released from jail

  • Print

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was a free man Wednesday after serving most of a 15-month sentence in a gambling scandal.

Pat Berdan, a consultant working with Donaghy, said he was released from Hernando County Jail in Florida. Donaghy had been jailed there since August after officials said he violated travel restrictions while living at a halfway house in the Tampa area.

A New York judge sentenced the ex-referee in July 2008 after Donaghy said he took thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games—including games he worked.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce in the tips-for-payoffs scheme.

Donaghy served 13 months of a sentence that began in a federal prison in Pensacola. He was transferred to a halfway house in June and wound up in the Hernando County Jail in Brooksville after being accused of violating his probation by not showing up for work.

During his stay in prison, Donaghy wrote a tell-all book “Blowing The Whistle,” that does not yet have a publisher.

Random House said last week that it had decided not to go forward with publication of the book, which in excerpts posted online includes accusations of wagering between officials working games, favoritism toward star players, and desires by the league to extend playoff series.

The NBA has said it will review the allegations that appeared on the Web site deadspin.com.

Executive Prison Consultants, a consulting agency working with Donaghy, has said the former referee plans to live in the Sarasota area and seek a job in sales or marketing.

Updated Nov 4, 4:44 pm EST
digg del.icio.us
more

134 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Ron
    134. Posted by Ron Sat Nov 7 7:18pm EST

    Report Abuse

    His story is almost unbelievable.... This guy John wins 97% of his NBA & MLB sports bets. He makes $70 K a week. Check it out! http://www.lasvegassportsodds.biz
  2. Joel L
    133. Posted by Joel L Fri Nov 6 4:32pm EST

    Report Abuse

    dont buy his book
  3. kingpaddy
    130. Posted by kingpaddy Fri Nov 6 12:37am EST

    Report Abuse

    The FBI and NBA got to debrief this guy, what about the public. You don't get big money from the mob for a health report. This dude shaved points, threw games and we want our money back. I want to know how many more of these moles there are. He knows. 'they all know because they watched him work. Just ask Mark Cuban who was threaten with losing his team over these crooked refs.

    Being a crook is one thing...protecting a crook is far different.
  4. The Drinker
    129. Posted by The Drinker Thu Nov 5 10:59pm EST

    Report Abuse

    One Of Stern's Finest!



    The Lakers Can't Win Championships,But David Stern Can Win 'Em For Them.

    "CHEERS"
  5. deeznutz
    128. Posted by deeznutz Thu Nov 5 8:27pm EST

    Report Abuse

    peter you suck, get a clue
  6. Detroit4Life
    125. Posted by Detroit4Life Thu Nov 5 2:42pm EST

    Report Abuse

    IT'S A SPORT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Get a life and use our tax money on criminals!!!
  7. Chris B
    121. Posted by Chris B Thu Nov 5 1:39pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Wasn't Lance still undergoing cancer treatment in 1999?
  8. 4:20 is where its at
    120. Posted by 4:20 is where its at Thu Nov 5 1:02pm EST

    Report Abuse

    post # 77 have you had your daily Pabst blue ribbon yet ?
  9. <i>nelsoneddie717</i>
    119. Posted by nelsoneddie717 Thu Nov 5 11:15am EST

    Report Abuse

    I gave 3-to-1 odds, he would have been in jail longer.
  10. Phil
    115. Posted by Phil Thu Nov 5 9:17am EST

    Report Abuse

    This not about race?

    PETA wanted to take vick to texas and drag him behind a truck.

    This white guy not only betted on the games he made money on the games. Lets see:

    Betting on games that you control or killing dogs that actually kill kids.

    The crime this guy did should put him behind bars for at least twenty years.
  11. <i>kammeres</i>
    114. Posted by kammeres Thu Nov 5 8:23am EST

    Report Abuse

    I don't condone what Tim Donaghy did, but you have to admit he'll never have another peaceful moment again in life, with so many people having it out for him.

    Post 98 lists a Benoit Joachim among the teammates of Lance Armstrong, maybe it's (salt)Peter's brother - or husband. Nutjob paranoiac - there's no reasoning with people like that, they see a hidden agenda in everything. Just leave him in the corner to rattle off that mindless palaver to himself.

    Interesting post early on about our elected officials, so many with convictions, bad credit, etc. Minor technicality - our lawmaking body the US Congress has 535 members: 100 Senators and 435 Representatives. Still doesn't take away from those statistics, though.
  12. Killa
    113. Posted by Killa Thu Nov 5 6:54am EST

    Report Abuse

    who cares
  13. Robert R
    112. Posted by Robert R Thu Nov 5 6:46am EST

    Report Abuse

    Stay out of Phoenix you lowlife
  14. kingpaddy
    111. Posted by kingpaddy Thu Nov 5 12:49am EST

    Report Abuse

    The FBI and NBA got to debrief this guy, what about the public. You don't get big money from the mob for a health report. This dude shaved points, threw games and we want our money back. I want to know how many more of these moles there are. He knows. 'they all know because they watched him work. Just ask Mark Cuban who was threaten with losing his team over these crooked refs.

    Being a crook is one thing...protecting a crook is far different.
  15. David
    110. Posted by David Thu Nov 5 12:48am EST

    Report Abuse

    he deserve it..
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Video Spotlight