Sports / Tim Donaghy Donaghy Gets 15 Months in Gambling Rap Disgraced NBA ref gets off lightly after lawyer's plea for leniency By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:37 PM CDT Copied Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy arrives at Brooklyn federal court for his sentencing, Tuesday, July 29, 2008, in New York. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano) Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison today for his role in the NBA gambling scandal, the Sporting News reports, a step down from the 27-33 months recommended by federal guidelines. Donaghy’s lawyers argued that the disgraced referee—who admitted to betting on games he officiated in pleading guilty to wire fraud and other charges—couldn’t help committing those crimes, because he was a compulsive gambler. (More Tim Donaghy stories.) Report an error