Former Louisville assistant gets plea deal in extortion case
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FILE - In this March 20, 2010, file photo, then-Wake Forest head coach Dino Gaudio watches during an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in New Orleans. Gaudio, a former University of Louisville basketball assistant, pleaded guilty Friday, June 4, 2021, to a federal charge of attempted extortion and will avoid prison time. Gaudio threatened to expose alleged violations by the Louisville team in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in the use of its graduate assistants in practices, according to a charging document filed in May. He asked for 17 months of salary or a $425,000 lump sum payment, according to the U.S. Attorney. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2019, file photo, Louisville assistant coach Dino Gaudio cheers on the team against Wake Forest during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Winston-Salem, N.C. Federal authorities have charged Gaudio with attempting to extort the university after his dismissal from the team. Gaudio threatened to go to the media with alleged NCAA violations by the team, according to a charging document filed in federal court. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
AP2010
FILE - In this March 20, 2010, file photo, then-Wake Forest head coach Dino Gaudio watches during an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in New Orleans. Gaudio, a former University of Louisville basketball assistant, pleaded guilty Friday, June 4, 2021, to a federal charge of attempted extortion and will avoid prison time. Gaudio threatened to expose alleged violations by the Louisville team in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in the use of its graduate assistants in practices, according to a charging document filed in May. He asked for 17 months of salary or a $425,000 lump sum payment, according to the U.S. Attorney. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A former University of Louisville basketball assistant has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of attempted extortion and will avoid prison time.
Dino Gaudio was dismissed from the team along with another assistant in March after the Cardinals missed the NCAA tournament. During a meeting with coaches, Gaudio threatened to go to the media with alleged NCAA violations by the team, according federal prosecutors.
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He pleaded guilty on Friday to a charge of interstate communication with intent to extort, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Louisville. Gaudio agreed to a plea deal that will include probation and a fine.
Gaudio, 64, threatened to expose alleged violations by the team “in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in the use of its graduate assistants in practices,” according to a charging document filed in May. He asked for 17 months of salary or a $425,000 lump sum payment, according to the U.S. Attorney.
Gaudio will be sentenced on Aug. 27.
He had been the head coach at Wake Forest University from 2007-10. He then spent eight years as an ESPN analyst before joining Louisville in 2018. Gaudio also previously led Army and Loyola-Maryland and worked with Louisville coach Chris Mack at Wake Forest.
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