Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty Wednesday to two felony counts for his role in an illegal gambling scheme, including some games that he refereed, in a scandal that has shaken the league.
Donaghy, a 13-year veteran official, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting waging information through interstate commerce. He faces up to 25 years in prison. Donaghy, 40, was released on a $250,000 bond.
In a Brooklyn courtroom, U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon said Donaghy provided two co-conspirators with confidential information about league officials and players. Donaghy gave his recommendations, or picks, and he was paid up to $5,000 per tip if his information led to his associates winning bets, Amon said.
"I was in a unique position to predict the outcome of NBA games," Donaghy told the judge. "Some of my picks included games I had been assigned to referee."
The judge said Donaghy's "unique access" included what NBA crews would officiate specific games, information about the interaction of different officials and players, and the physical condition of certain players.
The scheme was concealed from the NBA, the judge said.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement: "We will continue with our ongoing and thorough review of the league's officiating program to ensure that the best possible policies and procedures are in place to protect the integrity of our game,"
On ESPN's Dan Patrick show, Stern added that "it's our understanding there are no other NBA officials involved."
The Donaghy conviction was a subject at the U.S. men's basketball training camp in Las Vegas.
"It's funny, but I never thought about someone else out there trying to cheat," Cleveland's LeBron James said. "It's bad for the game of basketball, but we're professionals and we have to move on."
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant added: "All we can do is let the people who deal with this stuff handle it and once the season comes around, we have to be ready."
Court records released Wednesday provided some insight on how the Donaghy scandal took shape. Law enforcement authorities allege that Donaghy's former high school classmate James "Baba" Battista, 42, and Thomas Martino, 41, conspired with Donaghy to profit from his inside information.
Battista and Martino surrendered to FBI agents in New York on Wednesday and appeared in Brooklyn federal court. They were released after posting $250,000 in bond, a U.S. attorney's spokesman said.
