Toledo unsure if more players will be charged

Published Tuesday, April 3, 2007

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Athletic officials at the University of Toledo said yesterday they don’t know if any more players will be charged in what the FBI says was a point-shaving scheme.

Federal authorities arrested running back Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr. on Friday, charging him with participating in a bribery scheme to influence sporting contests.

McDougle, 22, and a senior from East Cleveland, recruited Toledo football and basketball players to participate in the scheme orchestrated by a Michigan man identified only as "Gary," according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

Athletic Director Mike O’Brien said he has no plans to interview any other athletes and that federal authorities are taking the lead on the investigation.

"We just found out about this Friday," O’Brien said.

The criminal complaint does not say whether any players changed the outcome of games. O’Brien said he did not know if that happened.

McDougle told FBI investigators he received a car, telephone and other items of value but insisted he never changed the way he played to affect the outcome of games, according to the complaint.

"Gary" allegedly invited the athletes to gamble and dine at Greektown Casino in Detroit.

One player was offered $10,000 to sit out a football game, while others received cash, groceries, merchandise and other gifts, the complaint said.

Authorities listened to phone calls between McDougle and the man.

During one call in December 2005, McDougle said he would talk to other players and see if they could make money on a game between Toledo and Texas-El Paso, the complaint said. In a call later that month, McDougle said another player would be helping and asked "Gary" to make a $2,000 bet for him on the game, the complaint said.

The Rockets went on to beat UTEP 45-13 in the GMAC Bowl. McDougle was injured much of the 2005 season and did not have any carries in the bowl game.

McDougle was arraigned Friday and released on $10,000 bond. He was suspended from the team but is allowed to attend classes, O’Brien said. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.