[espn]Tentative agreement reached in Sampson perjury case

First Nelson Mandella
then Vernon Maxwell
then this!


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2575157

Tentative agreement reached in Sampson perjury case
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. -- Former NBA and Virginia star Ralph Sampson, who is accused of lying to federal authorities about his finances in a child support case, would serve two months in jail under a plea agreement he is considering, his attorney said Tuesday.

The 46-year-old Sampson is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday for a trial on charges of perjury, making a false claim, mail fraud and making a false statement. Under the proposed agreement, the 7-foot-4 Sampson would plead guilty to one of the charges, his attorney, James C. Roberts, told The Associated Press.

Sampson faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count if convicted in the non-jury trial, prosecutors said.

"It hasn't been signed off by everybody involved," Roberts said of the tentative agreement. "We've been working on one for a couple of days now and hope it will go through."

Roberts said he has had "a lot of discussions" with Sampson regarding the agreement, but no final documents have been signed. Sampson was on his way to Richmond and hoped to finalize the agreement Wednesday, Roberts said.

If the agreement is accepted, Roberts said he planned to ask U.S. District Judge James Spencer to delay Sampson's incarceration until the spring of 2007.

Sampson pleaded guilty last year in Richmond to failing to pay about $300,000 in court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing was postponed after Sampson was indicted on the perjury and false claim charges in January. The mail fraud and false statement charges were added in May.

Sampson, who lives in Atlanta, made his first court appearance on the child support charges in Georgia. Sampson allegedly told authorities there that he was self-employed by Sampson Communications and had no income, but prosecutors claim Sampson was earning $5,000 per month as a consultant for one company and made commercials and promotional appearances for another in exchange for a $200,000 home.

 

if Les Alexander was a good person.
he'd give Ralph a job with the Rockets to help Yao develop his fast break skills.

 

look, ralph cant pay cause he's not in the NBA anymore. he's a good person.
a hero.


RICHMOND, Va. -- Former NBA player Ralph Sampson will serve two months in jail for mail fraud under a plea agreement approved by a federal judge Thursday.

In exchange for Sampson's guilty plea, federal prosecutors dropped charges of perjury, making a false claim and making a false statement about Sampson's finances in a child support case.

U.S. District Judge James Spencer approved the deal on the day Sampson's non-jury trial was scheduled to begin. Sampson faced a maximum of five years in prison and a fine on $250,000 on each count if convicted.

The mail fraud count was related to Sampson's purchase of a vehicle in 2004.

Spencer agreed to Sampson's request to delay his incarceration until April.

"I've not seen one thing that convinces me Mr. Sampson is a bad person, a terrible person," the judge said. "He was unable to pay, not unwilling to pay."

Sampson told reporters outside of court that was eager to put his troubles behind him.

"We all have to suffer some anguishes in life," Sampson said. "This is mine."

Sampson, 46, pleaded guilty last year to failing to pay about $300,000 in court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. His sentencing was postponed after he was indicted on perjury, false claim, mail fraud and false statement charges.

The indictment alleged Sampson told authorities he was self-employed by "Sampson Communications" and had no income; prosecutors contended he earned $5,000 per month as a consultant and made commercials and promotional appearances for another in exchange for a $200,000 home.

The indictment also said Sampson denied owning a $43,000 sport utility vehicle, which he bought using a corporate identity, and that he sent documents regarding the SUV from Georgia to Virginia for the purpose of defrauding a financing company.

Sampson is to pay the $300,000 in back child support under an earlier agreement with federal prosecutors.

Sampson was drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Rockets in 1983 after playing at the University of Vi

 

ralph owes 300k, that has to based on some of his nba salary.
thats a mortgage he has to pay off.
if he make $5000/month, plus he has to support himself, thats going to be hard for 'Sampson Communications'

 

despite whatever situation Ralph is in now,

when Ralph defeat the Lakers, that shocked the world. HOUSTON ROCKETS, We will Rock you!
Beat LA
Beat Boston

thanks Ralph!

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I noticed another thread about this on the NBA Dish.

its insulting. its not NBA Dish.

it belongs on the Rockets forum cause Ralph Sampson is a legendary Rocket.
when healthy, he was Kevin Garnett. He beat the legendary Lakers team with Magic and Kareem and Worthy. A shot heard around the world. he battled with a young Hakeem, to make the greatest duo this side of the planet.