Assistant to NBA player stole $4.7 million to fund family’s lavish lifestyle, feds say
The former personal assistant of ex-NBA player and ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson has been sentenced to prison after officials said he stole millions from the player, according to news outlets.
Theodore Kritza, 46, previously pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud, according to an April 20 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
A lawyer for Kritza did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
Kritza began working for the professional basketball player, who had stints with teams including the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, in 2005 as his personal assistant, where his responsibilities included paying Jefferson’s bills.
Over the course of several years, Kritza stole about $4.7 million from Jefferson by forging his signature on dozens of documents, the release said.
Prosecutors said Kritza forged signatures on business loans, credit line applications and his power of attorney. He also opened a bank account in Jefferson’s name to hide his theft, the release said.
He also stole money from Jefferson’s various NBA salaries, endorsement contracts and the sale of his condo, the release said.
Kritza used the money to fund a “lavish lifestyle” for him and his family that included luxury cars, houses, vacations, private school tuition, investments and an attempt at purchasing an airplane, prosecutors said.
“For years, Theodore Kritza preyed upon the trust he gained with the victim and defrauded him of his hard-earned money and savings, choosing greed over trust. Today, Kritza found out the cost of his scheme,” Sean Kaul, special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, said in the release. “This sentencing sends a clear message that fraud is a serious crime, with serious consequences. The FBI remains committed to pursuing justice for all victims of fraud.”
The former assistant has been sentenced to 70 months in prison with five years of supervised release, the release said. Kritza has also been ordered to pay $4,794,874 in restitution.
This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 6:31 PM with the headline "Assistant to NBA player stole $4.7 million to fund family’s lavish lifestyle, feds say."
