Payne enters plea in shaving scandal

DETROIT (AP) - Not-guilty pleas have been entered on behalf of former University of Toledo basketball player Kashif Payne and Detroit businessman Mitchell Karam, who are charged with conspiring to fix UT football and basketball games and the results of horse races.

Both appeared Tuesday in federal court in Detroit.

The 76-year-old Karam of Troy and Ghazi "Gary" Manni of Sterling Heights are charged with conspiracy in two indictments. One involves the alleged fixing of races, mostly at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida. The other involves alleged point shaving at Toledo football and basketball games from fall 2004 through 2006.

Karam's lawyer, Brian Legghio, says they contest the charges and will examine the evidence "very closely."

Authorities say Karam and Manni worked with a jockey and now-former Toledo players.

Harvey "Scooter" McDougle, Quinton Broussard, and Adam Cuomo will appear in federal court on Wednesday.

There is no word on when Keith Triplett, 29, will appear in federal court.

Former basketball player Sammy Villegas, who is allegedly involved in the point-shaving scheme, will be sentenced June 18 in Detroit. Federal prosecutors charged Villegas of felony conspiracy to influence a sporting contest by bribery.

If convicted, the student-athletes could each face up to five years behind bars and $250,000 in fines. Manni, Karam and Valdez could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud.