Donaghy: I brought shame on myself and family

Folding his arms but showing no other emotion, the 41-year-old Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy apologized to the court by saying "I brought shame on myself and my family," during his sentencing today in Brooklyn federal court.

Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty in August 2007 to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce for taking payoffs from a professional gambler for inside tips on games.

He told the judge at the time, "By having this nonpublic information, I was in a unique position to predict the outcome of NBA games."

Mr. Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison for setting off a gambling scandal that tarnished the league’s reputation and raised questions about the integrity of its officiating.

NBA ex-Referee Tim Donaghy

Donaghy’s lawyer had asked Judge Carol Amon to give his client probation, arguing Donaghy is a pathological gambler. Judge Amon, could have imposed a sentence of 33 months, but instead gave the former referee credit for cooperating with investigators. She also scolded Donaghy for disgracing the sport.

"The NBA, the players and the fans relied on him to perform his job in an honest manner," she said.

In addition to the prison time, the judge ordered Donaghy to serve three years of supervised release.

Last week, two of Donaghy’s former high school classmates were sentenced to over a year in prison for their roles in the scheme.

James Battista, a professional gambler and admitted drug addict, got 15 months in prison for making bets based on inside tips. Thomas Martino, the scheme’s middleman, was sentenced to a year and one day for paying the referee thousands of dollars for the tips. The three men attended school together in Springfield, Pa.

The league had demanded nearly $1.4 million in restitution. But the judge last week set the restitution at $217,266, to be paid jointly by the three defendants.

Meanwhile, Donaghy’s wife, Kimberly, filed for divorce from the disgraced referee in a Florida court, claiming the couple’s 12-year marriage is "irretrievably broken,” the divorce was finalized in June 26.