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Former NBA player and Michigan State star Jay Vincent was sentenced Friday to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $110,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for his part in a fraud case involving thousands of people who paid to become certified home inspectors. Prosecutors say Vincent and an associate defrauded 20,000 people out of more than $1 million by charging them to become inspectors through a business called Foreclosure Bank Inspection. No inspectors were hired, and the business had no contracts with banks, according to the government. Vincent, 52, pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges nearly a year ago. On Friday, he apologized in federal court in Grand Rapids for his actions. His lawyers asked for probation so he could start repaying the victims, while prosecutors recommended nine years in prison. Dallas Morning News

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Former NBA star Magic Johnson is asking a Michigan judge for "mercy" and no prison for former college teammate Jay Vincent. Vincent will be sentenced Friday for fraud. He and Johnson grew up in Lansing and were stars on the 1979 Michigan State national championship team. In a letter to a federal judge in Grand Rapids, Johnson says Vincent is a "really good guy" with a "tremendous heart." Johnson believes Vincent got involved with the wrong people and "made some really bad decisions." ESPN.com

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In the 20 years since Jay Vincent completed his NBA career -- which included stops with the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Bullets, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers -- he has managed to run into an ocean's worth of hot water. This time, though, he's being sent to jail for running a scam involving the same game that earned him more than $1 million as a professional. CBSSports.com

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In 2010, Vincent pleaded guilty to bilking unsuspecting victims out of millions of dollars in an online scam that involved a fake company to carry out home inspections. Unfortunately, StateNews.com reports that Vincent is allegedly continuing fraudulent activity by -- get this -- charging people to try out for a fake basketball team and was jailed this week for his actions. "At the same time as the inspection company operated, according to court documents, Vincent owned Pro Basketball Co. Vincent now runs a similar business called USA ProBasketBall Co. Vincent said the company holds tryouts to find players, puts together traveling exhibition teams and finds sponsors for the teams. CBSSports.com

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"Prosecutors believe Vincent placed ads this year in several newspapers - including two with the Dayton Daily News and one with a paper in Monroe - promoting the tryouts. Vincent charged participants a "tryout" fee that at one point was $85. According to court documents, one man was notified he made the team after a tryout in Monroe and Vincent instructed the man to send $275 and to expect a contract. The man became suspicious and didn't pay, but others did, the documents say. CBSSports.com

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Former MSU and NBA basketball player Jay Vincent was jailed Thursday for continuing to scam people after pleading guilty to charges of fraud last year, according to an article by the Lansing State Journal. Vincent’s bond was revoked at a U.S. District Court hearing today and he will be held at the Newaygo County Jail, the article said. Vincent allegedly traveled the country charging people to try out for a fake basketball team. “We indicated he might be engaging in additional fraud and felt it is pretty clear (and) evident he was writing false checks,” U.S. State News

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Former Michigan State and NBA basketball star Jay Vincent has pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges related to a $2 million Internet scam. Prosecutors say the 51-year-old Vincent and an associate defrauded 20,000 people by charging them to become certified home inspectors through a business called Foreclosure Bank Inspection Co. The government says no inspectors were hired and the business had no contracts with banks. AP

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Former Michigan State star and NBA player Jay Vincent has agreed to plead guilty to two crimes in a $2-million dollar internet scam. The crimes Vincent has agreed to plead guilty to include mail fraud and filing a false tax return. Prosecutors report that Vincent and an associate defrauded people by charging them to become certified home inspectors. The 51-year-old Vincent and his associate created a scheme to swindle people into thinking their company had received large checks from banks to do the inspection work. However, the contracts and checks Vincent and his associate showed respective clients were either altered or counterfeit. FanHouse.com

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Court filings show a plea bargain is in the works for ex-Michigan State basketball star and retired NBA player Jay Vincent, who appeared in court Tuesday on charges in a $2 million Internet scam. Vincent was silent in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids as a not-guilty plea to fraud and tax charges was entered on his behalf. But a judge also set a Sept. 28 hearing for him to change that plea. Defense lawyer Charles Ford said there could be a guilty plea if it is in his "client's best interest." He declined further comment. The U.S. attorney's office declined to comment. ESPN.com

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Ex-NBA player and Michigan State star Jay Vincent has been indicted for an Internet employment scam that bilked about 20,000 jobseekers out of about $2 million, the U.S. Attorney's office said Thursday. The 51-year-old Vincent and 53-year-old Anthony Portee face charges of mail fraud, and Vincent is charged with an income tax violation, authorities said. Both men live in Lansing. ESPN.com

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