Disgraced ex-NBA referee Donaghy jailed again, accused of violating probation by missing work

Ex-NBA ref Donaghy jailed on probation violation

TAMPA, Fla. — Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was back behind bars Tuesday, accused of violating his federal probation by not showing up for work, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Donaghy, 42, was being held without bond a day after his arrest at a halfway house in Tampa where he was finishing his 15-month sentence for gambling charges.

“He was supposed to be at work and he was somewhere else,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Ron Lindbak, who didn’t know any more details. Jail records said Donaghy is in sales at the Sarasota-based beverage company ShotPak. Calls to company executives there were not immediately returned.

Donaghy’s attorney, John Lauro, was out of town and did not immediately respond to phone messages.

A New York judge sentenced Donaghy last year after the referee said he took thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on NBA games — including games he worked. Donaghy said he was a gambling addict.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce in the tips-for-payoffs scheme.

He was released from a federal prison in Pensacola to the halfway house in June. He was scheduled for release in October.