From the Toledo Blade :

A former University of Toledo basketball player has been charged by a federal grand jury in Detroit with accepting bribes in an attempt to shave points on UT basketball games. The charge against Sammy Villegas, a native of Puerto Rico, stem from the Rocket’s 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons. The point guard made the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team for the 2002-2003 season and was named Freshman of the Year.

If convicted, the charges carry a $250,000 fine or five years in prison.

A UT spokesman said the university will cooperate with the investigation “if we’re asked to.”

Not to make light of a serious criminal investigation, but rather than cast a Donaghy-esque pall over Rockets hoops, Villegas might someday be as synonymous with Toledo as Steve Mix. Now that the whole country knows you can bet on Mid-American Conference games, imagine how their ratings might improve?