Sports Franchise Owners in Legal Trouble

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March 1st, 2019
Back Sports Franchise Owners in Legal Trouble

Last week, Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, was arrested for solicitation of prostitution at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida. The billionaire was video taped twice paying for sex acts at the massage parlor. He is currently facing two misdemeanor charges, and Kraft is denying that he had any involvement in the sex trafficking operation in Florida. This prostitution ring has been under investigation by police over the last 6 months, and numerous arrests have been made as 10 spas have been closed due to these charges.

Carolina Panthers Owner Accused

Jerry Richardson, former owner of the Carolina Panthers, sold the team after an investigation by the NFL surfaced. Richardson was allegedly accused of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace. There were at least 3 incidents of sexual harassment towards his former employees, and he apparently used a racial slur towards a scout of the team. Richardson was eventually fined $2.75 million by the NFL, and these mishaps cost him ownership of the Panthers.

Other Incidents

Several years ago, CEO of the truck stop company Pilot Flying J, Jimmy Haslam III, found himself in hot water. Although the owner of the Cleveland Browns was never charged with a crime, various executives of the gas station chain either pled guilty or were convicted of fraud valued at over $50 million. The NFL never punished this owner for the allegations that he was involved in the fraudulent scheme.

In 2014, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and 4 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance for having pain killers in his car. The NFL fined Irsay $500,000 and suspended him for 6 games. He underwent drug testing for a year and went to treatment for substance abuse.

In the 90’s Ed DeBartolo Jr., owner of the San Francisco 49ers, pled guilty to failing to report a felony. He reportedly paid $400,000 to Louisiana Governor, Edwin Edwards, for a riverboat gambling license. The NFL suspended DeBartolo Jr. for one year, and the former owner turned the franchise over to his sister after this gambling fraud case concluded.

Leonard Tose…

…was the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. Tose was forced to sell the Eagles in the 80’s as he was in debt over $25 million to Atlantic City facilities. Leonard had quite the gambling problem to say the least, and he paid dearly for it.

The owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Marge Schott, was taken to court by former employees and sued for being a racist. She was also fined $25,000 by the MLB for making racially insensitive comments. Schott has been in trouble multiple times for the same behaviors proving that she never learned her lesson.

Another Racist Owner

Donald Sterling was banned for life by the NBA, and he was fined $2.5 million after recordings of him making racist remarks became public news. Sterling had no choice but to sell the Los Angeles Clippers as a result of these offenses.

The Rigas Family

This family owned and operated the Buffalo Sabres. They were indicted on bank and security fraud charges ultimately resulting in the NHL making them put the team up for sale. This is just another case of poor and illegal decisions costing the owner to relinquish ownership and control of their team.

New York Yankees Owner

George Steinbrenner was the long-time owner of the New York Yankees. Back in the 70’s, he was suspended by the MLB for 2 years for making illegal campaign contributions. Steinbrenner ended up only serving 15 months of his 2-year MLB suspension due to good behavior.

Consequences

When the owners of these professional sports teams get busted for wrong doing, they seem to have two common results. Either they get fined and suspended which doesn’t seem to impact the owners all that much. These people are billionaires, and the fines that they are dealt often do not hurt them financially. The suspensions are even more of a joke as they don’t play in the games.

The consequences that really effect the owners are when they are forced to sell the team. These major sports franchises generate so much money. When the owners are stripped of their team for whatever reason that is when they get hit the hardest. It seems like that is the only way these people have any chance to learn a lesson and not misbehave or commit a crime.

“video taped twice paying for sex acts at the massage parlor”

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