Police Called To Home Of NBA Referee

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, being investigated for betting on games he officiated, is not expected to turn himself in until later this week or early next week. <br/><br/>When he does

Monday, July 23rd 2007, 5:41 pm

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, being investigated for betting on games he officiated, is not expected to turn himself in until later this week or early next week.

When he does surrender to authorities, he will do so in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, according to a person familiar with the FBI investigation.

Though under investigation, Donaghy has not yet been charged with any crime.

Authorities are examining whether the referee made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered thousands of dollars (euros) over the past two seasons, according to a law enforcement official. The referee had a gambling problem and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance, the official said.

Over the weekend, police staked out Donaghy's home in Bradenton, Florida after he received two telephone threats.

Both calls seemed to come from the same unidentified caller, Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Randy Warren said.

``There is reason for us to keep an eye on his place and follow up,'' he said.

Three squad cars arrived at Donaghy's home on Sunday after he received the calls, according to a sheriff's office report. Donaghy did not have a listed phone number at his home.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that Donaghy is the only referee, at this point, under investigation and that others outside the NBA are expected to be charged in the betting probe.

Another person with knowledge of the FBI investigation said the NBA was unaware of the probe until after the NBA finals.

Those familiar with the investigation and the law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

The New York Daily News, citing unidentified law enforcement sources, reported on Sunday that Donaghy will cooperate with authorities and possibly name other officials and players involved in the betting scandal. On Monday, the newspaper reported former neighbors of Donaghy in Pennsylvania said they were approached more than a year ago by a private investigator they believed was hired by the NBA to check into Donaghy's gambling habits.

Kit Antsey, a real estate agent in West Chester, Pennsylvania, who helped Donaghy buy a home, told The Daily News a private investigator contacted him 18 months ago and asked him whether Donaghy bet on sports and at an Atlantic City casino.

NBA commissioner David Stern said on Friday he plans to speak publicly about the investigation this week.