Colonel_Reb
Hall of Famer
<div>DETROIT (AP) - Two Detroit-area businessmen were charged with
paying and giving gifts to basketball and football players at the
University of Toledo to take part in a point-shaving scheme, according
to a federal indictment filed Wednesday.</div>
Six former Toledo players also were accused of taking part in the
alleged scheme by either affecting the outcomes in games or giving the
two businessmen information so that they could place wagers on the
games.
The FBI began investigating point shaving at Toledo four years
ago. They said the scheme began in the fall of 2004 and continued until
2006.
Ghazi Manni, 52, of Sterling Heights and Mitchell Karam,
76, of Troy were charged with conspiracy to influence sporting contests
by bribery.
The pair bet about $407,000 on Toledo basketball games between November 2005 and December 2006, according to the indictment.
The six players also were charged with conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.
The
indictment charges three former football players: Adam Cuomo, 31,
Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr., 24, and Quinton Broussard, 25. Also
charged were former basketball players Keith Triplett, 29, Anton
Currie, 25, and Kashif Payne, 24.
Until now, only three former players at the school had been linked to the allegations.
Former
basketball player Sammy Villegas was charged last June with shaving
points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He has not
entered a plea, but he is scheduled to be sentenced in June.
Charges against McDougle were dropped earlier as the investigation continued. McDougle has denied involvement.
Documents
unsealed last month in federal court accused Cuomo of recruiting his
teammates and basketball players at the school to take part in the
alleged scheme.
Cuomo told investigators he gave information
about upcoming games to the Detroit gambler and that he introduced
numerous athletes to meet with the gambler, according to documents
filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday with Manni's attorney, Neil Fink, and with the university.
Manni has repeatedly said that he knew many football and basketball players at the school, but they did not fix any games.
Triplett
said two years ago that he knew Manni, but was never asked to shave
points. Triplett's attorney, Ray Richards, said Wednesday the former
Toledo player is innocent.
"At this point I have not read (the)
indictment so I really don't have too much information," Richards said.
Triplett is currently playing overseas, he said.
Athletic
officials at Toledo have allowed federal authorities to take the lead
on the investigation. No current players are thought to be involved in
the allegations.
The football and basketball coaches who were at
Toledo when authorities say the scheme took place are now gone.
Athletic officials have said their departures were not tied to the
gambling allegations.
Manni and Karam also were charged Wednesday
along with a former jockey in a separate, 19-count indictment accusing
them of fixing races at a Tampa, Fla., horse track and elsewhere. [url]http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9493372/Former-Toledo-pla yers-indicted-for-point-shaving?FSO2&ATT=MA [/url]
</span>
paying and giving gifts to basketball and football players at the
University of Toledo to take part in a point-shaving scheme, according
to a federal indictment filed Wednesday.</div>
Six former Toledo players also were accused of taking part in the
alleged scheme by either affecting the outcomes in games or giving the
two businessmen information so that they could place wagers on the
games.
The FBI began investigating point shaving at Toledo four years
ago. They said the scheme began in the fall of 2004 and continued until
2006.
Ghazi Manni, 52, of Sterling Heights and Mitchell Karam,
76, of Troy were charged with conspiracy to influence sporting contests
by bribery.
The pair bet about $407,000 on Toledo basketball games between November 2005 and December 2006, according to the indictment.
The six players also were charged with conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.
The
indictment charges three former football players: Adam Cuomo, 31,
Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr., 24, and Quinton Broussard, 25. Also
charged were former basketball players Keith Triplett, 29, Anton
Currie, 25, and Kashif Payne, 24.
Until now, only three former players at the school had been linked to the allegations.
Former
basketball player Sammy Villegas was charged last June with shaving
points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He has not
entered a plea, but he is scheduled to be sentenced in June.
Charges against McDougle were dropped earlier as the investigation continued. McDougle has denied involvement.
Documents
unsealed last month in federal court accused Cuomo of recruiting his
teammates and basketball players at the school to take part in the
alleged scheme.
Cuomo told investigators he gave information
about upcoming games to the Detroit gambler and that he introduced
numerous athletes to meet with the gambler, according to documents
filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday with Manni's attorney, Neil Fink, and with the university.
Manni has repeatedly said that he knew many football and basketball players at the school, but they did not fix any games.
Triplett
said two years ago that he knew Manni, but was never asked to shave
points. Triplett's attorney, Ray Richards, said Wednesday the former
Toledo player is innocent.
"At this point I have not read (the)
indictment so I really don't have too much information," Richards said.
Triplett is currently playing overseas, he said.
Athletic
officials at Toledo have allowed federal authorities to take the lead
on the investigation. No current players are thought to be involved in
the allegations.
The football and basketball coaches who were at
Toledo when authorities say the scheme took place are now gone.
Athletic officials have said their departures were not tied to the
gambling allegations.
Manni and Karam also were charged Wednesday
along with a former jockey in a separate, 19-count indictment accusing
them of fixing races at a Tampa, Fla., horse track and elsewhere. [url]http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9493372/Former-Toledo-pla yers-indicted-for-point-shaving?FSO2&ATT=MA [/url]
</span>
