PeakNews Online
A former NBA player banned for life for sports betting admitted Wednesday to tipping off gamblers to games he purposely was going to rig — and earning them $1 million — in an effort to clear his own gambling debt.
Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the gambling scandal and will owe an estimated $456,000 in fines and restitution.
According to the New York Post, Porter admitted to placing bets and working with others “in order to get out from under a large gambling debt.”
“I know what I did was wrong and unlawful, and I’m deeply sorry for my conduct,” Porter told Brooklyn federal Judge James R. Cho.
Prosecutors recommended 41 to 51 months in prison at his sentencing December 18. He was released on $250,000 bond insured by his mom and wife and he must continue with gambling counseling.
Porter surrendered to the feds Wednesday morning after a criminal case was opened against him last week, tying him to the alleged betting ring that hinged on Porter’s shady performances.
Four gamblers — Long Phi Pham, Mahmud Mollah, Timothy McCormack and Ammar Awawdeh — face charges in the case for cashing in on bets from two games Porter purposely bowed out of early, federal prosecutors have said.
Joe
