NBA Ref cheated on taxes
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 2000.
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Darell Garretson was one of several referees who was being reimbursed for first-class airline tickets by the NBA, then purchasing less expensive tickets and pocketing the difference.
Garretson, 68, a Mesa, Arizona, resident, pleaded guilty April 18 in U.S. District Court to one count of fraud and false statement as part of a plea agreement. ment with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Federal prosecutors said Garretson made dlrs 54,531 in air-fare reimbursements in 1992 and dlrs 25,130 in 1993. Garretson reported none of that income on his tax returns, prosecutors said. The tax loss was dlrs 21,238. Garretson worked for the NBA for 29 years, and was chief of staff of referees and supervisor of referees from 1981-95.
Twelve other officials were charged with similar offenses. Eleven pleaded guilty. One, Steve Javy, was acquitted in a jury trial.
