Ex-NBA referee's pals file plea bargains

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Two of the men allegedly linked to a gambling ring connected with ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy are reportedly considering plea deals with U.S. prosecutors.

Court records state that Thomas Martino, 41, and James Battista, 42, who were named as Donaghy's co-conspirators in the gambling ring, have decided to file plea bargains with federal prosecutors in New York, The New York Post reported.

The persecutors asked that the deadline for the case be delayed because they are "engaged in plea negotiations which they believe are likely to result in a disposition of the case without trial," the newspaper said.

A friend of Donaghy's said the former referee is under pressure from friends and family to enter the federal witness-protection program.

Donaghy's friend told the Post that "once Battista takes a plea agreement and talks, that's what's going to put Tim's life in danger. Battista's going to give up the low-level mob guy" who allegedly dealt with the ring, the newspaper report said.