CLEVELAND (AP) — A former Cleveland Browns wide receiver who pleaded guilty to stealing over $100,000 from two charities to finance gambling debts and personal expenses has been sentenced to 21 months in prison.
A federal judge in Cleveland last week also Reggie Rucker to pay $110,000 in restitution.
Rucker, 68, pleaded guilty earlier to wire fraud and false statements after FBI investigators found he had routinely made withdrawals from a charity’s account at casino ATMs in Cleveland and Las Vegas.
Rucker played 11 NFL seasons. He was executive director for a Cleveland-based charity created by NFL great Jim Brown to help inner-city youth and had a lead role with an anti-gang violence group.
Rucker’s attorney says Rucker’s gambling addiction was related to football-related brain injuries that caused a loss of impulse control.
- Posted August 08, 2016
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Ex-NFL player sent to prison for charity thefts
headlines Macomb
- Leadership role
- Warren man bound over on 10 felonies related to alleged shooting and high-speed fleeing and eluding
- Nessel secures judgment against construction company for consumer protection violation
- ACG Detroit celebrates women leaving an impact on the middle market at Inspire & Ignite Luncheon
- Attorneys general ask court to enforce order preventing cuts to billions in disaster preparedness funding
headlines National
- A wave of lawsuits has resulted from online comments after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
- Goldman Sachs top lawyer resigns after emails show Jeffrey Epstein friendship
- Failed indictment of 6 Democratic lawmakers blamed on Jeanine Pirro-picked prosecutors
- Federal judges may address ‘illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks,’ according to new ethics opinion
- Senate GOP aims to reveal companies funding lawsuits
- Bad Bunny’s ‘love conquering hate’ message at Super Bowl reiterated by judge sentencing assaulter
