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Ex-NBA star Walker sentenced to probation
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Antoine Walker
Played 13 seasons in NBA
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Former NBA star Antoine Walker was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation for failing to repay about $1 million in gambling debts owed to three Las Vegas casinos.
Both Walker, who appeared in District Court wearing jeans and a hooded shirt, and his lawyer declined to comment. He did say that after the hearing, he was heading straight to the airport.
Walker, 35, pleaded guilty in June to one felony count of passing a bad check. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped two other counts of passing bad checks.
Judge Valorie Vega ordered Walker to pay more than $750,000 in restitution to the casinos. Another stipulation to his probation prohibits him from gambling.
Vega warned Walker to be vigilant against gambling because casino surveillance systems are always watching.
Authorities said that between July 2008 and January 2009, Walker was given $1 million in markers from Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and Red Rock Resort and failed to pay them back, according to court records.
Under state law, an unpaid marker is treated as a bad check, which allows the district attorney's office to prosecute.
Walker last year filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation, scuttling a promise he made in 2009 to a Las Vegas justice of the peace to pay restitution to the casinos, plus court fees and penalties to the district attorney's office. His filing reported $12.7 million in liabilities and $4.3 million in assets, including his championship ring.
Walker played for four NBA teams during his 13 seasons in the league and helped the Miami Heat win a championship in 2006. He has not played in the league since 2008. According to media reports, his salary over that time totaled more than $105 million.
Walker most recently played professional basketball in Puerto Rico.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
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lol.. I agree with what you say. However we all know who really owns the State of Nevada. Always have, always will.
If I offer credit to another business and sell them real items, and they do not pay me it is a civil matter unless they defrauded me. However a casino offers a degenerate addict credit and the addict fails to pay, and its a criminal matter? And the casino is out very little because they are selling a fantasy that you can win money gambling. Why don't we collect for drug dealers while we are at it?
He was offered the credit and did not take, steel or embezzle anything. We have no debtors prison in this county and no crime was committed. Someone need to challenge this all the way to the supreme court and stop the State of Nevada from being a collection agency for Casinos
Why do they excuse him for $250k? I guess crime pays? If he ows a mil, he needs to pay a mil.
Just how many of these ex NBA types are broke a few years after they stop playing? To bad most of them left college before they got an idea on how to invest wisely and save their money. So I guess it is back to the hood for Antoine. Oh well, such is life.
On one side, the casinos offered credit without requiring the gambler to bank a sufficient amount in their Cashier Cage, to cover credit, as they usually do with High Rollers. They took his word to be responsible to make good his credit. He didn't. They lose. But, on the other hand, this lame Judge dismissed the charges, and 250,000 bucks on what he owes, plus penalties and Court Fees,.....with a 10 minute Public Relations lecture on Gambling so the local news will portray her as tough on Black Celebrity wealthy Criminals........ I hope she enjoys her Reelection Campaign Donation.
More competence from the exceptionally fairly paid Clark County District Attorney's Office.
Vegas, the dream of few winners financed by the bunch of losers.
When are people going to learn that the casinos are built on the gamblers' losses. It you win too much, they will put you out. Remember, casinos are private property and they have the right to refuse service, particularly if you are winning.