DETROIT (Ticker) -- Sammy Villegas, a former basketball player
at the University of Toledo, has been charged by federal
officials with accepting bribes to fix games.
The federal indictment filed in Detroit says Villegas, a Puerto
Rico native, shaved points during the 2004-05 and 2005-06
seasons.
Villegas, who graduated from Toledo in 2006, has been charged
with conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery.
According to the indictment, Villegas intentionally missed two
free throws in a game against Central Michigan in 2006.
Federal prosecutors said Villegas received money and gifts in
exchange for fixing games.
A shooting guard, Villegas was named the 2003 Mid-American
Conference Freshman of the Year.
In March 2007, a Toledo football player, Harvey McDougle, was
charged in connection with a point-shaving scheme in which he
allegedly recruited players from the school's football and
basketball teams.
The charges were dropped three months later....