Not Guilty Pleas in NBA Betting Scandal
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Two men charged in a betting scandal involving a disgraced basketball referee, Tim Donaghy, have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud the National Basketball Association.
Prosecutors said James Battista, a professional gambler with nicknames “Baba” and “Sheep,” and Thomas Martino entered the pleas during a brief appearance today in Brooklyn.
A trial date was set for April 28. Each man remains free on $250,000 bond.
In a guilty plea in August, Donaghy said he started making NBA bets four years ago, even wagering on games he worked. He admitted recommending bets to high-stakes gamblers and collecting $5,000 if his picks hit.
The former referee faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced April 18 for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce.
