The following profiles were compiled using public records, public court documents, sealed court documents obtained by FOXNews.com and interviews with subjects close to the case.
Tim Donaghy, 41, has admitted to violating NBA policy by betting on his own games for four NBA seasons beginning in 2003. He has been a referee for 13 years, from 1994 to 2007. In 2005, the NBA investigated a dispute with his West Chester, Pa., neighbors, who sued Donaghy for harassment and invasion of privacy. During the probe, NBA investigators were told that Donaghy was gambling at casinos. (At the time, casino gambling was prohibited for referees. They weren’t allowed to enter casinos; they were permitted to bet at racetracks in the summer off-season.) NBA Commissioner David Stern said the league contacted every casino in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and found no evidence to support the accusations of gambling. Donaghy was fined $200 and was not allowed to work the second round of the 2005 playoffs as punishment for the conflict with his neighbors.
In 2000 prior to the betting scandal, Donaghy was given multiple citations by local Pennsylvania police for a variety of summons-worthy behavior, including disorderly conduct for obscene language/gestures, for public stalking and harassment.
Donaghy attended Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pa., where he arranged for someone else take the SATs for him. He attended high school with co-defendants Thomas Martino and James Battista. In a recent court filing, U.S. Attorneys have said that “Donaghy has admitted to committing other crimes in the past, including assault (on another NBA referee) and various other instances of criminal mischief.”
Donaghy currently lives in Bradenton, Fla., and is in the process of divorcing his wife.
Scott Foster, 41, of Silver Springs, Md., is a 14-year veteran of the NBA. Officiated Game 1 and Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Championship series. Friends of both Donaghy and Foster told FOXNews.com that the two were close friends whose families vacationed and traveled to golf tournaments together.
James Battista, 43, is a self-described professional gambler. He has admitted to being Donaghy’s bookie from December 2006 to April 2007. He attended Cardinal O’Hara High School. Entered rehab in March 2007 for gambling and drug addictions. Prior arrest for bookmaking in Delaware County, Pa., in 1996. Spent a few years living and gambling in Curacao.
Thomas Martino, 42, has admitted to being Donaghy’s “middleman” in the betting scheme. Attended Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pa. Has no prior arrests. Worked as computer technician for J.P. Morgan Chase for 20 years. He’s now enrolled in beauty school, where he is studying full time to become a hairstylist. His attorney has asked the court for leniency in light of his previously undetected Histrionic Personality Disorder.
Jack Concannon, 42, of Glen Mills, Pa., attended Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pa., and currently works in insurance. Placed bets on behalf of Donaghy on 35-40 games each season from 2003-2007 with bag man Anthony Rufo, 41, Battista’s brother-in-law who was busted for illegal sports gambling alongside Battista and Ruggieri. Concannon is a cooperating witness,who is providing the FBI with testimony against Donaghy, and others, and has not and does not expect to be charged with any crime.
Peter Ruggieri, 39, of Glen Mills, Pa., attended Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill. He was Donaghy’s golf partner in West Chester, Pa., before Donaghy moved to Florida. In 1996, Ruggieri was busted for sports gambling in Delaware County, Pa. In 2002 he was convicted of wire fraud and fined $2,000 for his role in a ring that took bets on sports from bookies in New York and New Jersey. One of his co-defendants was Alan Denkenson, whose sports book operated in connection with the Detroit sports gambling ring busted in 1990, which gained media attention when former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was subpoenaed to testify about checks he had written to one of the now-convicted defendants.
Joseph Vito Mastronardo Jr., 58, legendary sports bookmaker known for his “Vito line.” He is the son-in-law of Frank Rizzo, a former police commissioner and two-time mayor of Philadelphia, a distant relative of Lucchese mob associates. His $2.7 million illegal sports operation, based in Montgomery County, Pa., was busted in May 2006. His phone records were used to identify Donaghy. He has served time in federal prison for convictions related to gambling — including involvement in a $50 million ring — and has multiple arrests for sports booking-related offenses dating back to the 1980s.
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