Former NBA player’s assistant sentenced to 70 months in prison for stealing $4.7 million

A former personal assistant to an NBA player was sentenced to 70 months in prison this week for stealing $4.7 million from the retired athlete, federal officials said.

Theodore Itsvan Joseph Kritza, 46, of Superior, Colorado, was also sentenced on Tuesday to five years of supervised release, according to a declare from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.Kritza was also ordered to pay a total of $4,794,874 to the unnamed former professional athlete.

Kritza previously pleaded guilty to bank and wire transfer fraud.

The attorneys listed as representing Kritza in the case could not be reached for comment on Friday.

NBC branch KPNX of Mesa reported that former NBA player Richard Jefferson recruited Kritza.

After playing for the University of Arizona, Jefferson played for the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers. He retired from basketball in 2018, KPNX reported.

Jefferson could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Kritza was hired as an assistant in April 2005, federal prosecutors said.

In that role, he was tasked with taking care of the basketball player’s daily errands, including paying his bills.

Between 2005 and 2012, Kritza scammed money by “forging victim signatures on more than two dozen documents, including business loans, credit line applications, and power of attorney.” ,” the officials said.

He also forged his owner’s signature to open a bank account in his employer’s name to conceal Kritza’s use of the stolen money, officials said.

Federal prosecutors said: “Kritza then used the stolen money to maintain her family’s lavish lifestyle, which included expensive luxury cars, housing, vacations, tuition, and fees. private schools for their children, invest in businesses and try to buy an airplane.”

“We see this scenario over and over again,” US Attorney Gary Restaino said in the statement. “A trusted relative abuses his position of trust to embezzle other people’s property. Thank you to our partners at the FBI for their hard work in the investigation. “

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