COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Ex-Ohio State and NFL quarterback Art Schlichter pleaded guilty to swindling as much as $2.5 million from people who paid him for non-existent sports tickets.
Under a deal with federal prosecutors, Schlichter would serve 10 years for federal wire, bank and tax fraud, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported Wednesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson requested more pre-sentencing investigation, which court officials said often takes about three months, before deciding whether to accept the plea deal.
Schlichter was sentenced to 10 years in prison last month after pleading guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to theft and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. That sentence would run concurrently with the federal sentence.
More than 50 people were victimized by the ticket scam, which Schlichter started in 2006, telling people he could acquire Ohio State basketball and football tickets and pro football tickets at low prices because of his connections. Instead, he used the money for gambling.
He had been the Buckeyes starting quarterback from 1978 to 1981 and was a first-round pick by the Baltimore Colts in the 1982 NFL draft. His gambling addiction led to the end of his NFL career.
