Professional Athletes That Ended Up Being Accused Of Serious Crimes
We tend to view pro athletes as a privileged class – people who spend their professional lives in the public spotlight, racking up millions of dollars, and becoming heroes along the way.
But athletes are human, just like the rest of us. They mess up and even run afoul of the law – sometimes before their career gets going, sometimes in the middle of their career, and sometimes later in life. Let’s take a look at some prominent pro athletes who wound up on the wrong side of the law.
Art Schlichter
Of all the athletes who’ve wound up in hot water for betting, Art Schlichter may be the most notable. After a fantastic collegiate career at Ohio State, Schlichter washed out of the NFL after just 4 seasons.
Schlichter has a full-blown betting addiction and has racked up massive debts over the years – both during and after his playing days. In 1997, he was convicted of forgery and theft, and in 2012, he was convicted once more for fraud and theft.
Denny McLain
The mercurial Denny McLain is best remembered as the last MLB pitcher to win 30 games in a season – something that’s unlikely ever to happen again. He was also known as a somewhat unpredictable player during his career.
McLain’s personal life has been marked by controversy, with prison sentences for trafficking, embezzlement, and racketeering. His last on-record arrest occurred in 2011, which may be a sign that McLain is staying on the right side of the law.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds, who became the poster child of baseball’s steroid scandal despite never publicly admitting to using them, nonetheless found himself in legal trouble as a result of the steroid allegations.
In 2007, a government investigation of BALCO – the lab where Bonds allegedly obtained the steroids – resulted in Bonds being indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. He received a sentence of house arrest and community service.
Mark Rogowski
“Gator” Rogowski isn’t a household name, but he did see his pro skateboarding career go up in flames in 1991. After meeting up with an ex-girlfriend, Rogowski attacked and assaulted her before suffocating her to death.
He turned himself in to police a few weeks later and confessed to the crime. A California court sentenced him to 31 years to life. Rogowski remains incarcerated at Donovan State Prison in Southern California to this day.
Michael Vick
Michael Vick burst onto the scene as a dynamic, mobile young quarterback in 2001 with the Atlanta Falcons and wound things down as a capable backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015.
In between, though, Vick found himself at the center of a dog fighting scandal, in which it was found that he orchestrated an interstate dog fighting ring. He was indicted on federal and state charges and later sentenced to serve prison time.
Dany Heatley
Dany Heatley was a highly regarded hockey prospect and the centerpiece of the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers early in his career. Just a year after winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year, an incident happened that would haunt Heatley.
The young star was at the wheel — with teammate Dan Snyder in the passenger seat — when he crashed his car in an Atlanta suburb, killing Snyder. Heatley was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide.
Allen Iverson
Allen “The Answer” Iverson is one of the greatest Philadelphia 76ers of all time, but his career almost ended before it even started. When he was 17 — before the Sixers and before his college days — he found himself in a racially charged confrontation at a local bowling alley.
Iverson allegedly struck a woman in the head with a chair and was hit with a felony charge of maiming by a mob. He spent four months at a correctional farm before being granted clemency by the state’s governor.
Ryan Leaf
The hard-luck quarterback was already retired and widely regarded as the biggest NFL draft bust in history when he found himself in legal trouble in 2009. He was in rehab at the time and was arrested for possession.
Later, in 2012, he was arrested for burglary, theft, and controlled substance charges in Montana. He wound up pleading guilty and was handed a lengthy prison term as part of a plea deal.
Rae Carruth
Rae Carruth’s once-promising career came to a screeching halt in 1999 when he conspired to murder his pregnant girlfriend. Carruth didn’t pull the trigger but was present at the scene and orchestrated the whole thing.
After a brief run from the law, Carruth was captured a few days later. He was found guilty of various charges but not guilty of first-degree murder (for which he could have received the death penalty). He received an 18-year prison sentence and was freed in 2018.
Dwight Gooden
“Doc” Gooden was one of the most electrifying young pitchers ever seen in Major League Baseball, but legal issues and personal demons derailed what seemed like a possible Hall of Fame career.
Gooden was famously too high to attend the New York Mets’ 1986 World Series parade, and a host of charges – from possession to multiple DUIs – has followed him into retirement. Gooden has received various prison and probation sentences for his actions.
Craig MacTavish
The last helmet-free player to play in the NHL, MacTavish has enjoyed a long career as a player and then a coach. But early on in his playing days, MacTavish missed the entire 1984-85 season as a result of his legal troubles.
MacTavish struck and killed a young woman while he was driving and under the influence of alcohol. He issued a guilty plea to DUI and vehicular homicide charges and was sentenced to a year in prison.
Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra was a colorful figure during his MLB playing days but avoided any real controversy until after his retirement. In 2011, long after his playing days, he was hit with numerous charges: Bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, money laundering, auto theft, and indecent exposure.
Detailing his various issues would take too much time, but the long and short of it is that he was sentenced to prison. His legal woes continue, as he was arrested in 2018 for threatening an Uber driver.
Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding may not have directly carried out the attack on her figure skating rival, Nancy Kerrigan, but she was very much involved – and for this, she accepted a plea bargain for conspiring to hinder the prosecution.
The ordeal effectively ended Harding’s figure skating career, and it became part of pop culture lore. In the decades since the attack, Harding’s story has been turned into multiple TV documentaries along with a feature film.
Darryl Strawberry
The third and final member of the 1986 Mets on this list, Darryl Strawberry is actually a success story, as he’s completely turned his life around in retirement following a tumultuous playing career.
Straw pleaded no contest to solicitation charges from an undercover policewoman in Tampa, Florida, in 1999 (he also had controlled substances on him at the time). Substances were an issue for a time for Strawberry, as he was also punished for violating probation rules.
Donté Stallworth
Stallworth had a steady ten-season career in the NFL, split between various teams. But in 2009 – right in the middle of his playing days – Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian while driving his car in Miami.
Because he was found to be intoxicated at the time of the accident, Stallworth was charged with DUI manslaughter. A plea deal saw him get only 30 days in county jail plus probation and community service. He was suspended for the 2009 NFL season.
Boris Becker
The German tennis legend made history when he won at Wimbledon at the young age of 17. The rest of his career saw him win 49 singles and 15 doubles titles en route to becoming known as one of the best tennis players of all time.
In retirement, Becker was sentenced by Munich District Court to a two-year prison term for tax evasion. Two decades later, in 2022, he was sentenced by authorities in the U.K. for hiding assets and loans.
Bob Probert
The late Bob Probert, one of the most fearsome enforcers ever to play in the NHL, was arrested for possession in 1989 and sentenced to 3 months in prison. After his release, he was able to return to hockey.
After his playing days, Probert encountered more legal problems, though they didn’t result in prison time. In 2004, he was arrested in an altercation, and in 2005, he was arrested once more for breach of peace, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer. The charges were eventually dropped.
Dexter Manley
Dexter Manley, a punishing defensive end in the ’80s, was named to the 1986 Pro Bowl and won a pair of Super Bowls with Washington. To this day, he’s in the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame.
Following his playing days, Manley found himself in legal hot water a couple of times. A 1995 conviction for possession was followed up with a charge of evidence tampering in 2002. Since then, he’s remained fairly quiet.
Johnny Jolly
Johnny Jolly had a relatively brief pro career with the Green Bay Packers. It was brief largely because of his legal issues, which began in 2008 when he was found to be in possession of a felony amount of codeine.
That trial was delayed several times, but in the meantime, Jolly racked up additional possession charges, along with tampering with evidence. In November 2011, he was sentenced to six years in prison but was released less than a year later.
Riddick Bowe
One of the underrated heavyweights of boxing’s 1990s golden era, Riddick Bowe, effectively ended his career in a scary 1998 incident involving his family members. He was convicted of kidnapping his estranged wife and their five children.
Bowe thought the move would bring his family back together, but the kidnapping resulted in him stabbing his wife in the chest. Police were able to intervene and resolve the situation, but Bowe was hit with a prison sentence.
Sam Hurd
Sam Hurd carved out a niche for himself in the NFL as a special teams performer and occasional wide receiver for the Cowboys and Bears. His career screeched to a halt in 2011, though, when he was arrested as part of a large-scale controlled substances deal.
Hurd pleaded not guilty to the charges but was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released in 2023, but his NFL career is definitely over.
Mookie Blaylock
Mookie Blaylock had a decidedly non-controversial career, proving his worth as a dependable point guard for the Nets, Hawks, and Warriors between 1989 and 2002. He even earned an all-star nod in 1994.
In 2013, he was involved in a vehicular collision in which his car swerved into oncoming traffic, killing a passenger in the other vehicle. The following year, Blaylock accepted a plea deal that would see him serve three years in prison, followed by probation.
Milton Bradley
Well known as perhaps the angriest player in baseball during his 11-year career, Bradley’s anger on the field was nothing compared to his issues off the field. Police responded to his house numerous times on domestic violence calls, but no charges were filed.
In 2013, he was convicted of nine counts of physically attacking and threatening his wife. A few months later, he was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Later, in 2018, he pleaded no contest to domestic battery after attacking his second wife.
Nikolai Khabibulin
“The Bulin Wall” was an impactful goalie during his long NHL career but was forced to spend time in jail during the NHL’s offseason for a 2010 incident in Phoenix.
Khabibulin, who was playing for the Phoenix Coyotes at the time, was pulled over for speeding. After he failed a field sobriety test, he was booked with speeding and DUI. Later that year, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail, spending half of it in jail and half of it in house arrest.
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress accepted a plea deal in 2009 related to a shooting. The twist was that the only victim of the shooting was Burress himself: he accidentally discharged a handgun that was in his pocket, shooting himself in the leg.
Authorities were not amused, and Burress was indicted and later sentenced for the crime. Some years later, he was indicted by the State of New Jersey for tax evasion, and accepted a plea agreement.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson’s public image is, incredibly, pretty positive these days. It’s easy to forget that the boxing legend was enormously controversial during his heyday, and that he carries a rap sheet full of serious offenses.
The most serious offense would be the 1991 assault of a model in an Indianapolis hotel room. Tyson was convicted of the charge a year later and was sentenced to six years in prison, along with probation. He was eventually released in March of 1995 after serving less than three years.
O.J. Simpson
Everyone remembers the late O.J. Simpson’s murder trial in the ’90s, but it’s important to remember that Simpson was actually acquitted of these charges – even though the general public largely believed him to be guilty.
Years later, in 2007, Simpson was involved in a dispute over memorabilia in Las Vegas. Each side had their story – O.J. said he just wanted his stuff back – but the incident ended with Simpson being convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping and receiving a lengthy prison term.
Mike Danton
In perhaps the weirdest incident on this list, Mike Danton’s hockey career was derailed by a prison sentence tied to a bizarre murder-for-hire scheme on his former agent in the early 2000s.
Danton was very close with his agent, David Frost, from his junior hockey career all the way to the NHL. But the two had a falling-out, and Danton wanted Frost dead. Unfortunately for Danton, the person he thought was a hitman was actually an undercover police officer. He was sentenced to 90 months in prison.
Lawrence Phillips
The late Lawrence Phillips was never able to reach his full potential on the gridiron, thanks to a seemingly never-ending series of legal setbacks. After he hung up his cleats for good following the 2003 season, things just got worse for Phillips.
A series of assault convictions sent Phillips to prison in 2008. In 2015, while in prison, Phillips allegedly killed his cellmate. He was awaiting trial on this charge when he took his own life in 2016.
Jamal Lewis
The Ravens running back had a solid NFL career despite serving a sentence in federal prison right in the middle of it. In 2004, an investigation found that Lewis had used a cell phone to facilitate a deal for controlled substances.
Facing a mountain of evidence, Lewis chose a plea agreement in October of 2004 which saw him serve four months in federal prison. He was released in June of 2005 – just in time for Ravens training camp.
Matt Bush
Against all odds, Matt Bush had an MLB career despite racking up a series of legal issues before even reaching Major League Baseball. Bush was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, which was around the same time the issues began.
Bush was arrested in 2004 and 2009, both times for assault, but the most serious charges came about in 2012. He took a plea bargain after a DUI hit-and-run incident saw him run over a motorcyclist with his car.
Ugueth Urbina
Ugueth Urtain Urbina had a productive decade-plus career in MLB as a relief pitcher, leading the National League in saves in 1999 and earning two all-star game nods. Following his retirement, he returned to his native Venezuela.
Urbina attacked farm workers on his property with a machete, doused them with gasoline, and attempted to set them on fire. None of them were killed, which saved Urbina from a murder conviction. The attempted murder conviction, however, resulted in a long prison sentence.
Mark Ingram Sr.
Before Mark Ingram II reached new heights with the New Orleans Saints, his dad – Mark Ingram Sr. – was helping the New York Giants win Super Bowl XXV. His playing career was relatively uneventful, but he encountered legal problems in retirement.
In 2008, prosecutors sentenced Ingram Sr. to seven years in prison for money laundering and fraud. After failing to turn himself in, an additional two years were tacked on to the sentence for jumping bail.
Nate Newton
The undrafted Dallas Cowboys guard went on to win 3 Super Bowls and go to 6 Pro Bowls during his improbable career. He was arrested in 1991 at an illegal dog fight, but didn’t face charges.
Later, in 2001, he was found to be in possession of a large amount of controlled substances. For this offense, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for trafficking. Since then, he’s made an effort to get his life together.
Orlando Cepeda
The San Francisco Giants legend is one of the first prominent Puerto Ricans to achieve success in Major League Baseball. In the mid-’70s, shortly after his playing days ended, he tarnished his legacy with a series of possession charges.
Cepeda may have been a victim of shady folks at the airport, but regardless of how it happened, he was found to be in possession of controlled substances when he landed. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison but was released after ten months.
Travis Henry
Travis Henry was an efficient NFL running back early in his career, but like many running backs, he became less effective as he approached his 30th birthday. A 2008 trafficking arrest didn’t help his career aspirations, either.
Henry was accused of being the money man in a large-scale trafficking operation and faced a sentence of ten years to life. A plea deal reduced this punishment, but Henry still was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Isaiah Rider
Isaiah Rider battled personal demons throughout his NBA career but managed to avoid serious legal problems until after his playing days ended. A 2007 incident, though, resulted in prison time for the former Trail Blazer.
Rider issued a guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance, evading the police, and battery. He was released from prison early and turned his life around, establishing a charitable foundation to help kids in need.
Pete Rose
Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader is banned for life from the game after being accused of betting on games involving his team. While these were serious allegations, they only violated baseball’s rules and were not a legal issue.
A year after receiving this ban, however, Rose did run afoul of the law. In 1990, he pled guilty to filing false tax returns and not showing income that he’d earned. He received a fine and a short prison sentence.
Oliver Miller
Oliver Miller, or “Big O,” played for a ton of pro and semi-pro basketball teams in North America and around the world during his long playing career. A year after playing his final game, he was accused of pistol-whipping a man at a backyard barbecue.
Miller faced numerous charges in relation to this incident and pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and possessing a handgun. He served a year in prison and four years of probation.
Carlos Monzón
This boxer held the undisputed world middleweight championship for an incredible seven years and became a hero in his native Argentina during his career. But his in-ring exploits started to become overshadowed by allegations of domestic abuse against his wives and mistresses.
In 1988, things came to a head when Monzón beat his wife during an argument, then pushed her off a balcony, killing her. He was found guilty of murder. In 1995, during a weekend furlough from prison, he was killed in a car crash.
