Crime doesn’t pay, and one guy who stole money from a former NBA star is finding that out the hard way.
A man convicted of stealing $4.7 million from Richard Jefferson was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Theodore Itsvan Joseph Kritza, the former personal assistant to Richard Jefferson, was also ordered to pay Jefferson $4.8 million in restitution.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said in a press release:
“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.”
While working as Jefferson’s assistant from 2005 to 2012, Kritza maintained a lavish lifestyle off funds stolen from Jefferson’s salary, endorsement contract, and a condo sale, according to prosecutors. He also forged Jefferson’s signature to obtain business loans, credit lines and power of attorney.
Kritza got some comfortable with what he was doing that he also spent freely on cars, homes, vacations, and private school tuition for his children, and he attempted to purchase an airplane.
Jefferson played 17 seasons for eight NBA teams, including his first seven with the New Jersey Nets. He was with the Cleveland Cavaliers when they won the 2016 championship. He retired in 2018.
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He won a gold medal with the U.S. basketball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
