Seven former Toledo athletes sentenced in point-shaving scheme

On April 7, the last of the Toledo Rockets athletes found guilty of point-shaving found out their sentences. Kashif Payne and Keith Triplett were sentenced in a Detroit federal court to three years probation. Both will also have to pay fines and perform community service according to the Associated Press.

These transgressions occurred during 2004-2006 and were orchestrated by a Detroit gambler, Ghazi "Gary" Manni. Payne accepted less than $2,000 in cash and groceries while Triplett received or delivered to other players between $2,000 and $5,000.

While serious, the ''conduct appears to be aberrational,'' -Goldsmith said.

Triplett was a star at Toledo from 2002-2005 and was named to the First Team All-MAC team in 2004 and then to the second team in 2005. He also led the Rockets in scoring from his sophomore year on.

Two other basketball players were sentenced in March. They were Anton Currie and Sammie Villegas. Currie was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Federal prosecutors stated that Currie was not as involved in the scheme according to The Blade. Villegas was handed three years probation and must pay a $5,000 fine along with 100 hours of community service.

All four basketball players could have been facing jail time but entered pleas and were cooperative with the FBI.

The three ex-Toledo football players received their sentences on March 31st. Running back Adam Cuomo was the first one to be "in" on the scheme and helped to recruit the other players. Cuomo was handed three years probation with a $3,000 and 100 hours of community service.

Two other running backs, Quinton Broussard and Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr., also received probation. Broussard was sentenced to one year probation with a$1,000 fine and 25 hours of community service; McDougle will be on probation for two years with drug testing along with a $1,000 fine. Broussard admitted to receiving more than $2,000 in cash or goods which including getting cash for purposefully fumbling in the 2005 GMAC Bowl.

The U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith said he chose probation over prison because the men have no additional criminal record, according to FoxSports.com. Goldsmith also said that while serious, the ''conduct appears to be aberrational."

Ghazi Manni will not be sentenced until May 26 of this year.