Say it aint so Sammy

[The Hip Zip]

A former University of Toledo basketball player has been charged with fixing games in the latest development in a nearly two-year federal gambling probe.Sammy Villegas is accused of shaving points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, according to a federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Villegas is charged with conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. No trial date has been set, but court documents specify a sentencing date of Nov. 18, which may indicate that he is cooperating with the government.The charges carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.Villegas, a 6-foot-6 guard who finished his career at the school in 2006, is also accused of paying another Toledo player who took part in the point-shaving scheme, prosecutors said. The other player was not charged or named in the indictment, which was filed June 30.Any cooperation by Villegas could be a breakthrough in the government's slow-moving investigation. Authorities have told ESPN.com that the probe is focused on 51-year-old Ghazi Manni, the manager of a family-owned grocery in Detroit.Federal investigators have focused on both the Toledo men's basketball and football programs. Last year, former Toledo football running back Harvey "Scooter" McDougle was charged on a similar gambling offense. Those charges were later dropped on a procedural matter, though authorities haven't ruled out the possibility that McDougle could be charged again.According to sources, McDougle cooperated with investigators as they sought to make a case against Manni. Federal documents revealed that FBI agents used electronic surveillance to listen in to conversations between McDougle and Manni.Manni declined comment Wednesday night when reached by ESPN.com.In an interview last year, Manni said the feds had come by his store, but he declined to speak with them."They tried. They came up here," Manni said. "I got nothing to say to nobody."At the time, Manni revealed a single-page federal document -- dated April 23, 2007 -- showing that a U.S. district court judge signed off on five separate wiretaps of Manni's phone. The wiretaps were in effect intermittently from November 2005 through December 2006.The seven-page indictment filed against Villegas reveals that federal investigators picked up the player on at least four phone conversations, including three on the same day, with what is described as a "conspirator."On Feb. 4, 2006, Villegas placed a call to a conspirator in Michigan at about 12:15 p.m. Villegas made another call to a conspirator in Michigan at 12:29 p.m. He made another at 3:57 p.m.On that same day, according to the indictment, Villegas is accused of intentionally missing two free throws in a game against "Central State University." The box score for Feb. 4, 2006, however, shows that Toledo beat conference rival Central Michigan 78-62 that day.The home game tipped off at 7 p.m. Villegas came off the bench to play 21 minutes, hitting his only shot of the game, a three-pointer, and missing two free throws.John Belanger, Villegas's attorney, did not respond to a message left by ESPN.com on Wednesday evening.Villegas is from Puerto Rico and was an alternate on that nation's Olympic basketball team four years ago. He currently lives in the Dominican Republic, where he is playing this year for the Los Cocolos de San Pedro Macoris

[RootforRoo44]

saw this article in USAtoday, another black eye for the MAC. Though i guess it's pretty funny.

[johnnyzip84]

You know, I thought it was a little odd at the time when Toledo fired Stan Joplin. His program seemed to be reasonably successful on the court as far as I was concerned. It makes me think that the UT athletic department may have been aware of this point shaving allegation for some time.

[Zips Supporter]

Wow, I just can't believe something like this would happen. Who knew? How do you get away with something like that?

[The Hip Zip]

Wow, I just can't believe something like this would happen. Who knew? How do you get away with something like that?

It all seems to make sense, Sammy's inconsistancy was incomprehensible (until now). He'd be all world one night then pull a disappearing act the next. Sammy's act seemingly bothered Joplin as well as his minutes on the floor were often reduced as well. Would not at all be surprised if UT caught wind of this investigation and it was a contributing factor to Stan's dismissal.A little follow up:TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Point-shaving allegations against a former University of Toledo basketball player are related to gambling charges filed last year against a former Toledo football player, an FBI spokeswoman said.Sammy Villegas, a guard who finished his college career in 2006, is accused of shaving points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. The allegations by federal prosecutors became known last week.Running back Harvey ''Scooter'' McDougle Jr. was charged in April 2007 with participating in a bribery scheme to influence sporting contests. A month later, those charges were dropped, but the investigation continued.''The charges against Mr. Villegas are part of a larger investigation that encompasses Mr. McDougle, and that investigation is ongoing,'' said Sandra Berchtold, an FBI spokeswoman in Detroit.Federal prosecutors filed a bill of information in U.S. District Court in Detroit on June 30 that also accused Villegas of paying another player who took part in the point-shaving ring.McDougle's attorney, James Burdick, said this week that authorities haven't indicated that Villegas is connected with the charges against McDougle.''I have not heard from anyone, the district attorney or the FBI, that there was anything new of relevance against my client,'' he said.A university spokesman last week described the cases as isolated incidents.

[Dave in Green]

Third ex-player guilty in Toledo scandal

[zip37]

Sounds like the CCNY, NYU, LIU, Manhattan, and Kentucky programs of the late 40s and early 50s.