The rogue referee who rocked the NBA with a gambling scandal – and even bet on his own games – was given a sweetheart sentence yesterday by a federal judge who will let him walk free after serving just 15 months behind bars.
Tim Donaghy, 41, pleaded guilty last year to taking cash payoffs and placing bets on games and could have gotten up to 33 months in prison.
“I think it’s fair. I think [the judge] did a fair job,” Donaghy told The Post as he walked out of Brooklyn federal court.
“I’m happy this is over,” he later wrote in a text message. “I’ve definitely been better – but I’m glad this is over.”
The gambling scheme covered 16 games dating back to 2006 and 2007 that netted Donaghy up to $30,000 a year for game tips.
Before he was sentenced, a thin-looking Donaghy apologized to the court.
“I brought shame on myself and my family,” he said.
Donaghy, who lives in Bradenton, Fla., was ordered to surrender to authorities on Sept. 23. He is expected to serve his time in Florida.
“It was a tough day,” said Kim Donaghy, the rogue ref’s ex-wife, from her home in Florida. “It was much harsher than I thought it was going to be. He gave [the feds] every single thing they wanted. Every time they needed him, he hopped on a plane.”
NBA Commissioner David Stern said he hopes “the healing process can begin in earnest for all.”
Judge Carol Amon announced the sentence, saying that she did not impose the maximum because Donaghy “deserves to receive benefit for his cooperation.”
Amon said Donaghy – although the “central figure in the scheme” – helped the feds convict two other men involved with the gambling ring.
James Battista, a professional gambler who paid thousands of dollars for Donaghy’s tips, and Thomas Martino, the scheme’s middleman, both pleaded guilty and were sentenced last week. Battista was given 15 months in prison; Martino was sentenced to a year and a day.
The feds contend Donaghy once told his betting buddies to put money on the Memphis Grizzlies before a Dec. 26, 2007, game against the Washington Wizards.
Minutes before tip-off, he heard from an NBA scorer that the Grizzlies were “all banged up” so he quickly told bettors to go with Washington instead. The Wizards won the game 116-101.
Donaghy has claimed corruption among referees runs deeper, drawing angry denials by the NBA, which called on him to pay for its mounting legal fees. Amon ruled last week that he will he fork over $95,834.
Donaghy pleaded guilty Aug. 15, 2007, to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce.
In June, he marred the NBA even further by making fresh accusations that the league routinely encourages refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results and discourages them from calling technical fouls on star players.
The allegations – contained in court papers arguing that Donaghy deserved leniency for voluntarily coming forward with widespread corruption charges against the NBA – included one case claiming that referees rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games.
Although court papers didn’t name the teams involved, only the Los Angeles Lakers-Sacramento Kings series went to seven games during those playoffs. The Lakers went on to win the NBA title.