Disgraced ref Donaghy begins prison sentence

Sep 23, 2008 - 6:40 AM BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy will begin serving his 15-month prison sentence on Tuesday, stemming from a gambling scandal that rocked the league last summer.

Donaghy pled guilty last August to felony gambling and conspiracy charges following an investigation into an organized crime scheme that involved Donaghy controlling point spreads and gambling on games that he officiated.

The 41-year-old Donaghy, who spent 13 years as an NBA ref, will enter a minimum-security federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, according to a report from ESPN.com.

Donaghy was sentenced in late July. Two of his co-conspirators, James Battista and Thomas Martino, also pled guilty in the case, with Battista getting sentenced to 15 months and Martino to one year.