On Wednesday, Tim Donaghy, who was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on July 29, 2008, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information through interstate commerce, made his professional wrestling as a crooked referee on MLW Fusion.

During the main event, Donaghy played the role of a corrupt referee, preventing fan favorite Savio Vega from winning a Caribbean Strap match against Richard Holliday. After the match, Donaghy said he called the match as fairly as he did while in the NBA, officiating games between the Lakers and Kings.

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“I think people are going to find it entertaining. I was a little out of my comfort zone, but I think it went well. Wrestling is a form of entertainment, and I’m having fun with it,” Donaghy said. “It got a little more physical than I expected, but it was definitely exciting. Everyone was very helpful and professional, and I hope I’m part of it again.”

The federal charges against Donaghy stemmed from an FBI investigation into allegations of an NBA referee betting on games and controlling the point spread. Donaghy, who had a gambling problem, allegedly placed tens of thousands of dollars in bets on games during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 basketball season and had been contacted by mobsters to work on a gambling scheme.

After the allegations came to light, NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement, "We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again."

During his sentencing, Donaghy said in court, "I brought shame on myself, my family and the profession." He also claimed that while he was in prison, he was attacked and threatened by a man claiming to be an associate of the New York Mafia. FBI SSA Philip Scala said at the time, "If organized crime wanted to hurt Donaghy, he wouldn't be around today."

Source: SI

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