Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Last defendant in San Diego game-fixing scandal sentenced

BrandonJohnson

The final defendant in the game-fixing scandal that included former San Diego point guard Brandon Johnson, bookmaker Richard Garmo, was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation on Thursday.

Garmo was one of three “primary” defendants in the case, with fellow primary defendants Steve Goria and Paul Thweni receiving 30-month sentences. Garmo tearfully apologized for his role in the scandal just before receiving his sentence.

“I apologize to my father and (for) the embarrassment I brought to the family,” Garmo said according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I apologize to anybody else who has been affected by this, all the time spent, all the money spent. I want to apologize to the university. Just, I’m sorry.”

Of the ten people originally indicted two, Brandon Dowdy and Lilian Goria, had charges against them dropped last week. The 30-month sentences given to Thweni and Steve Goria were the stiffest handed out, with Johnson receiving a six-month sentence for his role in the game-fixing scandal.

Former San Diego assistant coach T.J. Brown was given a one-year sentence on April 4.

According to prosecutors, who requested that Garmo receive a 30-month sentence, Garmo “heavily financed this operation” and his financial struggles led to Garmo becoming even more involved in gambling and the fixing of games.

With the criminal portion of the scandal complete, San Diego could still face NCAA sanctions.

According to the Union-Tribune, the NCAA has stated in the past that it would wait for the criminal investigation to be completed before conducting its own investigation.

Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.