Toledo RB charged in point-shaving scandal
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FOXSports.com
Posted: 44 minutes ago
University of Toledo running back Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr. has been charged with recruiting football and basketball players in order to shave points and fix games for a Macomb County gambler, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.
A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit said the scheme was spearheaded by a man identified only as "Gary."
Allegedly Gary invited players to gamble and eat at Greektown Casino in Detroit. The complaint stated that one player was offered $10,000 to sit out a football game. Other players were given money and food among other gifts.
Even though McDougle told the FBI he received a car, telephone and other gifts from Gary, he insisted it never changed the way he played to affect the outcome of games.
McDougle, 22, was expected to appear in U.S District Court in Detroit on Friday and could not be reached for comment. There was no immediate response from school officials.
It's uncertain how many other athletes were implicated in the scheme because no other players or teams at Toledo were named in the complaint. At this point, it's also unclear if other schools are under investigation.
While there was no indication in the complaint that players threw any games because of the scheme, the document alleges that Gary, McDougle and others bribed Toledo athletes to impact the final score of specific games, so bets could be made on the games with illegal sports bookmakers.
"Once Gary and the players knew the line, they would decide if they could beat the spread," the complaint said. "If they were picked as an underdog by 10 points, they would decide if they could beat the 10 point spread. If they were picked as a favorite by a certain number of points, the players would decide if they would most likely win by that much."
Story Tools:
Print Email Blog This
FOXSports.com
Posted: 44 minutes ago
University of Toledo running back Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr. has been charged with recruiting football and basketball players in order to shave points and fix games for a Macomb County gambler, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.
A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit said the scheme was spearheaded by a man identified only as "Gary."
Allegedly Gary invited players to gamble and eat at Greektown Casino in Detroit. The complaint stated that one player was offered $10,000 to sit out a football game. Other players were given money and food among other gifts.
Even though McDougle told the FBI he received a car, telephone and other gifts from Gary, he insisted it never changed the way he played to affect the outcome of games.
McDougle, 22, was expected to appear in U.S District Court in Detroit on Friday and could not be reached for comment. There was no immediate response from school officials.
It's uncertain how many other athletes were implicated in the scheme because no other players or teams at Toledo were named in the complaint. At this point, it's also unclear if other schools are under investigation.
While there was no indication in the complaint that players threw any games because of the scheme, the document alleges that Gary, McDougle and others bribed Toledo athletes to impact the final score of specific games, so bets could be made on the games with illegal sports bookmakers.
"Once Gary and the players knew the line, they would decide if they could beat the spread," the complaint said. "If they were picked as an underdog by 10 points, they would decide if they could beat the 10 point spread. If they were picked as a favorite by a certain number of points, the players would decide if they would most likely win by that much."
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