NBA ref pleads guilty in betting scandal

NEW YORK, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Former National Basketball Association referee Tim Donaghy Wednesday pleaded guilty in New York to providing gamblers with inside information on NBA games.

Donaghy, a 13-year-veteran ref who resigned last month after he was accused of betting on games, admitted in federal court he provided co-conspirators with inside information to help them bet on games.

Donaghy had “unique access” to crews officiating at games and information on the physical condition of players, said U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon. She fined Donaghy $500,000 and ordered him to pay at least $30,000 in restitution.

Donaghy faces a maximum prison term of 25 years.

Donaghy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information through interstate commerce, both felonies. He told Amon that if his “picks” were correct, he would be paid, WABC-TV, New York, reported.

“I was privy to confidential information the public didn’t have, and I was in a unique position to predict the outcome of any game,” Donaghy said.

He did not say whether he ever fixed a game.

Reputed bookie James Battista and Thomas Martino, Donaghy’s childhood friend, were expected to surrender to federal authorities, broadcast reports said.