Former Toledo player charged in point-shaving scheme

Aug 6, 2008 - 10:27 PM 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.