Antoine Walker, Ex-NBA Star Gets Probation In Vegas Casino Case

LAS VEGAS — Former NBA star Antoine Walker was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation and ordered to pay $770,050 in restitution to three Las Vegas casinos after pleading guilty to failing to repay gambling debts.

Walker and his lawyer declined to comment after his brief appearance before Clark County District Court Judge Valorie Vega.

Walker has repaid some of his Las Vegas casino debts since his arrest in July 2009 in Lake Tahoe, where he planned to play in a celebrity golf tournament.

The felony charge could be dismissed if Walker fully repays the remaining debts incurred in 2008 and 2009 at the Planet Hollywood, Red Rock Casino Resort and Caesars Palace casinos, prosecutor Samuel Bateman said. Walker faces a year in prison if he violates probation.

Walker, 35, starred on Kentucky's 1996 NCAA national title team and was a three-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics before winning a 2006 NBA championship with the Miami Heat. He also played in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008.

Walker filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in 2010. He played last year with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

Comments

[22Keys]

04:43 PM on 12/07/2011

This genius made 100 million dollars in his career. Unbelievable.

[OnlyIfIHaveTo]

01:37 PM on 12/07/2011

How fitting. Walker has been a dhead his entire career and this is a predictable situation for him now. Debtors prison would be an ideal place for him.

[08Voter]

01:17 PM on 12/07/2011

C'mon Cyber 'Toine. You have to do better. It's little doubt you'll ever pay, or be capable, of paying that money back.

[glassjaw]

01:17 PM on 12/07/2011

he gets probation for stealing $775k.......Blago will get 10 years for speaking about it

[Ohin Gaston]

12:55 PM on 12/07/2011

Jeez can we as a community come together and have a real discussion about wealth and how to accumulate it and not waste it...especially for our young athletes and entertainers....(I hate that this is the only reality, and there are no media portrayed financial persons that are looked up to) but you are the examples like it our not to many of our youth....Give back to the community not the casinos.

[meanlady21]

12:22 PM on 12/07/2011

How many bankers went to prison for all the billions of dollars STOLEN FROM WORKING CLASS AMERICANS.

[meanlady21]

12:21 PM on 12/07/2011

This is but one more example of how America is going back to old times. Don't pay debt go to prison. I have no mercy for him or the freaking CASINOS. They ripped that money off from people who have an addiction. Now the addict isn't innocent but if you file BK should you still have to prison.

[canaduh31]

01:02 AM on 12/07/2011

The return of debtors' prisons? Disgusting.

[meanlady21]

12:19 PM on 12/07/2011

I was thinking the same damn thing.