Charlie Villanueva
Detroit Piston Charlie Villanueva found himself in federal court the other day in Trenton, N.J., testifying against a fellow UConn alum who apparently ripped him off in what federal prosecutors have described as a Ponzi scheme.
The Trentonian newspaper reports that Villanueva testified Tuesday in the criminal trial against former basketball star Tate George, who played for the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. Villanueva claims he was conned out of $250,000 in money that was supposed to go toward a project called Seaview Plaza in troubled Bridgeport, Conn. Villanueva said he wanted to give back to the community.
The paper reported that Villanueva was promised the return of his $250,000, a profit of $37,500 and two percent on the gross for years to come -- possibly $2 million -- but he never saw a dime.
Tate George is accused of running a Ponzi scheme from 2005 to early 2011, which earned him $2 million. He has denied wrongdoing..
The Trentonian reported:
After he testified that the loss of $250,000 “hurt” him, Villanueva told The Trentonian on the way out of the courthouse that it hurt him personally to be conned by a fellow UConn alum and athlete.
“And it’s $250,000! That could have gone to my son’s education.”
