Tim Donaghy's betting buddies try to cop plea

[clevfan]

Tim Donaghy's betting buddies try to cop plea

BY JOHN MARZULLI
NY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, September 13th 2007

Two betting buddies of disgraced NBA ref Tim Donaghy are negotiating with the feds to plead guilty to gambling-related charges, according to a document filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.

James (BaaBaa) Battista and Thomas Martino were arrested last month in the scheme to gamble on basketball games with inside information passed to them by Donaghy. But the new document puts an expected indictment on hold while defense lawyers "are engaged in plea negotiations which they believe are likely to result in a disposition of this case without trial."

Yesterday, Battista's lawyer, Jack McMahon, said, "Obviously, I will listen to whatever the government has to offer, and do what is in the best interest of my client."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Goldberg declined to comment. Donaghy, who resigned from the NBA in July, has admitted participating in the sports betting ring and is cooperating with the government.

[clevfan]

NBA REF'S PALS EYE PLEA DEALS

By JANA WINTER, STEFANIE COHEN and DAN MANGAN
NY POST

September 13, 2007 -- Two cohorts of disgraced ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy are considering plea deals with federal prosecutors over their roles in an alleged illegal gambling ring, court records reveal.

Thomas Martino, 41, and James Battista, 42 - Donaghy's purported co-conspirators - and Brooklyn federal prosecutors this week jointly asked that the deadline for filing an indictment in the case be delayed because they are "engaged in plea negotiations which they believe are likely to result in a disposition of the case without trial."

The development comes as a friend of Donaghy - who already has pleaded guilty to gambling-related charges - said the ref is under pressure from friends and family to enter the federal witness-protection program. Donaghy's friend said that "once Battista takes a plea agreement and talks, that's what's going to put Tim's life in danger. Battista's going to give up the low-level mob guy" who had dealings with the betting ring.

"All this talk about witness protection is killing him," said Donaghy's friend. "He's lost about 25 pounds. He doesn't know what to do."