Assistant to NBA player stole $4.7M in years-long: feds

The former personal assistant of ex-NBA participant and ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson has been sentenced to jail following officers stated he stole thousands and thousands from the player, according to information outlets.

Theodore Kritza, 46, previously pleaded guilty to financial institution and wire fraud, in accordance to an April 20 news launch from the U.S. Attorney’s Business office for the District of Arizona.

A lawyer for Kritza did not quickly react to a ask for for remark from McClatchy Information.

Kritza started operating for the experienced basketball participant, who had stints with groups such as the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, in 2005 as his personalized assistant, where by his obligations bundled paying out Jefferson’s expenses.

Above the training course of numerous years, Kritza stole about $4.7 million from Jefferson by forging his signature on dozens of files, the release stated.

Prosecutors stated Kritza forged signatures on company loans, credit rating line purposes and his ability of lawyer. He also opened a lender account in Jefferson’s name to conceal his theft, the launch reported.

He also stole money from Jefferson’s various NBA salaries, endorsement contracts and the sale of his rental, the launch explained.

Kritza made use of the dollars to fund a “lavish lifestyle” for him and his relatives that bundled luxury autos, homes, holidays, private school tuition, investments and an endeavor at paying for an plane, prosecutors stated.

“For decades, Theodore Kritza preyed on the rely on he acquired with the victim and defrauded him of his hard-earned money and discounts, deciding on greed about rely on. Now, Kritza discovered out the expense of his plan,” Sean Kaul, special agent in cost of the FBI Phoenix Subject Business office, stated in the release. “This sentencing sends a obvious message that fraud is a significant crime, with serious implications. The FBI stays dedicated to pursuing justice for all victims of fraud.”

The former assistant has been sentenced to 70 months in jail with five yrs of supervised release, the launch mentioned. Kritza has also been purchased to pay $4,794,874 in restitution.