Toledo Ex-RB Admits to Point-Shaving Role

Former University of Toledo running back Adam Cuomo has admitted to being a key player in a point-shaving scheme at the school while he was a student there. Although Cuomo didn’t play much, he was a key contact for the gamblers who organized the scheme. In a point-shaving scheme, the players don’t throw a game, but rather seek to avoid covering the spread.

Image: Newscom

Last summer, former basketball player Sammy Villegas was charged with fixing gamers during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. Harvey McDougle, a former running back, was also charged on similar counts, but those charges were dropped due to procedural problems. He could be charged again, and other players may also be charged.

None of the current players at Toledo are thought to be involved in the scheme, which took place between 2003 and 2006. Cuomo was a senior during 2003, and he says that he’s the student that initiated the fraud along with 52-year-old Ghazi “Gary” Manni, a grocer from Detroit. He also says that he recruited players to participate.

Cuomo grew up in Ontario and returned to Canada following college. Authorities hope that Cuomo returns to the United States on his own, but their could issue an indictment and extradite him in May if he doesn’t.

The students involved took huge risks for relatively small monetary benefits ($500 – $1000, according to reports), which baffles authorities. Let that be a lesson to all you college students. If you’re going to do stupid things, make sure that the risks don’t outweight the rewards.