David also doesn't disclose information about the 2012 instance of fraud until Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Yelovich brings it up. Do you have a sports website? And when Golden 1 would wire $5 million, David says he planned to open up a DBA ("doing business as") account called GoldenOne from which he'd wire the $500,000 shortfall. Everyone will get their money back, and it'll be OK. David had neglected to leave the digital document when he'd departed for Miami a few weeks earlier. But this was the nerve center of Jeff's world. If he had truly wanted to return $4.4 million to the franchise, he would have needed to get creative. Gambling problem? Why did Jeff David steal $13.4M from the Kings? However, the former VPs point out that the state is paying for those employees on top of the $500,000 rent. These three executives join Chief Strategy Officer Joe Dumars, Assistant General Manager Ken Catanella, Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance Teena Murray and Vice President of Kings. I'll be up soon.". The Kings have finalized contracts with Doug Christie, Jay Triano and Luke Loucks to be assistant coaches under Mike Brown, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. "It tells a better story.". Federal prosecutors in Sacramento, California, on Wednesday filed charges and a plea agreement signed by former chief revenue officer Jeffrey David admitting to forging the team president's signature to divert sponsorship payments to a bank account he controlled. On this Monday, walking through the Davids' new front door is a dizzying procession of cable guys, utility workers and movers. Golden 1 Center | 500 David J Stern Walk | Sacramento, CA 95814Phone: 888-91-KINGS, Matina KolokotronisChief Operating Officer, John RinehartPresident, Business Operations, Becky Beland McNaughtSVP, Communications and External Affairs, Fernando VegaVP, A/V & Broadcast Production, Kari IdaVP, Communications and Public Relations, Mike HerreraVP, Corporate Partnership Sales & Service, Kindra Montgomery-BlockVP, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Impact, Maritza DavisVP, Experiences & Social Responsibility, Justin PetkusVP, Ticket Sales & Membership Services, Jason WiseSr. Nearby, a shrine commemorated Ranadive's meetings with global celebrities. Kate toggles over to the family's secondary account at Wells Fargo. Jeffrey David pleaded guilty earlier this year to . Sacramento Kings Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac today named Dave Joerger as the team's new head coach. Kaiser agreed, and on Aug. 19, 2015, David invoiced the company on Sacramento Kings letterhead, payable not to the Kings but to his SSP account. Several of the executives note that it's not unusual for teams and sponsors to explore renegotiating their active agreements, which would require executives on both sides to review the paperwork. When asked whether David's scenario sounds plausible, business operations executives from six NBA teams say they find it far-fetched. Whether it's a $20,000 signage buy with Van Wagner, a shipment of basketballs or a $110 million sponsorship deal, most NBA organizations have a rigorous system that tracks every purchase and sale. ", Wegzyn presses on. You gotta admire Scot's remarkable humility Whenever we talk about the 2000s Sacramento Kings, a.k.a. No milieu displayed this NBA abundance more than the Lexus Lounge at the Golden 1 Center half an hour before tipoff. 2015-16: Golden 1, Kaiser frauds During negotiations, Golden 1 CEO Donna Bland suggested that if the Kings needed more cash up front, Golden 1 could be in a position to accommodate. And he becomes emotional when he speaks on his own behalf, pausing to collect himself as he conveys remorse to the court. Later on, she found a $9 million deposit from Golden 1. The pet stores are closed on Sunday evening, so soon after David mixes three glasses of chocolate milk and prepares breakfast, he corrals the kids into the SUV for a trip to equalize the great goldfish disparity of 2019. Knicks-Celtics, 7:30 p.m. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. "That explanation rings hollow for me," Stone said. Deals like this often have "escalators," an excess amount paid each year to account for inflation or increased operating costs -- akin to a cost-of-living adjustment. The team gave nearly 3,000 pounds of food to the Sacramento County Office of Education and Sacramento Food Bank. [7] Highly regarded executive Daryl Morey (who was the president of basketball operations of the Rockets at this time) said in 2018, "Monte has been absolutely critical to the success of the Rockets over his long tenure.". SACRAMENTO, Calif. A former executive with the Sacramento Kings has been sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from the NBA team, according to the U.S.. Select the first team from the drop down menu. The Kings had given David an autonomy he could exploit. Led by David, they had begun discussions with several corporations for the naming rights for their new arena and training facility, which were under construction. The reality is there are only four real contenders. Still, the Kings defend the rent stating: "Per the state, our lease agreement for Sleep Train Arena is consistent with other similar alternate care facilities that have been created to support the growing medical needs of the COVID-19 crisis across California. Given the team's near departure from Sacramento numerous times over the previous few years -- including the stay of execution that had wrested the team back from Seattle in 2013 -- the Kings saw large-scale sponsorship deals as more than just an opportunity to cash some checks. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. The organization did not provide those numbers. She'd told the Kings' IT department that she needed access to David's email. Mavericks-Pelicans, 7:30 p.m. One Kings co-worker considered him the sort of oleaginous salesman who'd go into business with anyone. "The team almost left the city, and it was the people and companies of Sacramento that kept it there," David says. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. However, they said that few teams are profitable year to year and they note that many businesses will lose money, along with the state. Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. David, 44, siphoned $9 million from the Golden 1 Credit Union and $4.4 million from Kaiser Permanente. "It's a Sacramento tradition.". Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. "I'm in really big trouble," Jeff says to Kate's mother, Nancy, and her partner, Rich. [14], One of the largest problems that McNair faced was filling the shooting guard position as Bogdan Bogdanovic was a free agent in the 2020 offseason. David's lawyers counter that their client has cooperated fully and presents little risk of recidivism. He says he's investigating a real estate title company. SACRAMENTO (CBS13) Former Sacramento Kings executives say they are shocked that the organization is charging the state $500,000 a month to rent the shuttered Sleep Train Arena to be used as a. Sacramento Kings Staff & Executives - RealGM Sacramento Kings Staff & Executives Team: Season: Current | Historical View: Person View | Grid View Sort: Staff (A-Z) Col umns: Swipe 215 staff members found. With David no longer present to service the Golden 1 account or run interference, the fraud would be nearly impossible to manage. IN 2009, WITH the NBA in the headwinds of the global recession and rumors of a Kings relocation swirling, David was a man with growing concerns. "He'd open meetings with 'It's Money Monday!' 25% of those beds (to serve COVID-positive patients) are located in the team's former practice facility adjacent to the arena which was provided to the state at no cost. "No, no, no," Jeff responds. She finally learns that there's a freeze on the family account. The news first broke in August 2018, when the Sacramento Bee's Sam Stanton and Darrell Smith revealed David's scheme to siphon $13.4 million from Kings sponsors Golden 1 Credit Union and . / CBS Sacramento. In August 2018, the Kings' senior vice president of human resources had been looking for a copy of a commission structure to build out the corporate sales team. "We're going to lose everything.". As someone who owned rental properties, the table of depreciating items looked familiar in its contents -- furniture, a golf cart -- but the name of the entity in question was odd: Sacramento Sports Partners LLC. He has an adoring wife of almost 10 years, three healthy children. He has six months before returning to Sacramento for sentencing. He got to work revising the original paperwork, forging team president Chris Granger's signature and sending a digital file back to Kaiser. Sacramento Kings event. Select the fourth team from the drop down menu. David offers a broad outline of the Golden 1 and Kaiser Permanente schemes. Jeff tells her that's unlikely. In September, $4.4 million landed in the account of SSP. BACK IN COCONUT Grove, in the living room of the house that Jeff and Kate had been renting, Kate lies shivering in a ball on the couch. At group dinners and in casual conversations, execs who worked with David try to recall instances that might have marked him as a crook. He planned to rent these investment properties, but in the meantime, his young family could bask in the warm glow of one of L.A.'s most appealing coastal towns. This meant that one of his three kids was deprived of the innocent pleasure of toting home and choosing a name for this shiny, breathing doubloon swimming around in a plastic bag. He says he had the mechanics worked out: On July 1, 2026, the Kings would be expecting $5.5 million (per the original payment schedule). Owner Vivek Ranadiv said, "I am excited to bring his extensive experience and vision onboard to lead our basketball operations department. They wanted to go local. But on his way out, he had left behind a digital trail. Reading David's email felt invasive, even if Kings employees, like those at most companies, sign away their privacy to people like her. A spokesperson previously noted that the half-million-dollar rent at the arena works out to $41 per bed, per night for 400 beds. Eventually, she'd stumbled onto a folder titled "TurboTax," whose first item was a depreciation schedule for a home. ", "What's he talking about?! Nancy speaks with a measured empathy about a man whose adult life she admires. One week after her first foray into David's underworld, Wegzyn had struck the mother lode. In addition to the duties as Manager, Sales Operations. January 24, 2022 12:01am A Sacramento Kings executive was fined by the NBA for in-game actions, raising a complicated legal question. The Kings selected Tyrese Haliburton with the 12th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. [16], List of National Basketball Association team presidents. Jeff volunteers that Golden 1 and Kaiser Permanente, two major sponsors with the Kings, are partners. Wegzyn asked Thomas to set up a meeting. The family feels that seeing their father in a state of incarceration would be too traumatic for his kids. Rich and Nancy become incredulous. It had to be a hard decision. They were a massive disappointment, yes, but also so transcendent for brief moments. Former Kings Vice Presidents Tom Peterson and Mark Stone said they spoke with other VPs and former owners who, they say, shared their concern. "Jeff David was a lone operator.". On September 17, 2020, the Sacramento Kings announced the hire of McNair as the general manager and president of basketball operations. They were a massive disappointment, yes, but also so transcendent for brief moments. They said several other former VPs & owners were in agreement that if the Kings weren't going to donate the facility, they shouldn't be charging more than their cost. In 2012, approaching his 40s, David was earning a low-to-mid-six-figure salary. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed. "I can liquidate the properties. McNair hopes to bring stability to the organization. IT WAS ONLY one document -- one ordinary little document -- that Stacy Wegzyn had needed from Jeff David. [15] "You could come work for us," Sommercamp told Wegzyn. The same . NBA executives believe Kings could trade No. In December, David pleads guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. (4/17/20), Cody Demps continues to stay ready amid the suspended G League season and took on a Kings Guard Gaming member in an NBA 2K20 game. Hours earlier, the FBI had stormed her house. Jabour comes to Sacramentos front office with 14 years of experience in the league, most recently serving as Director of Scouting for the Philadelphia 76ers where he was heavily involved in day-to-day personnel operations, including talent evaluation, leading intel processes and collaborating with player agents. It's no surprise that Sacramento would be willing to package Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley III and multiple. After restitution is paid to the Kings and other wronged parties, the remaining money goes to an asset forfeiture fund that compensates crime victims. Join to view profile Sacramento Kings. She asks Jeff whether the documents contain anything that anyone with the Kings needs to see. "Any organization can suffer betrayal by a trusted employee," says Bill Portanova, a former assistant U.S. attorney who was retained by the Kings as an independent investigator. The organization points to its "In This Together" initiative. He won't see the children at all for the next several years. McNair grew up in Oak Park, California, and attended Oak Park High School. "You're probably not going to get that money back," Sommercamp says. However, their most notable acquisition this season was signing Russell Westbrook after he was bought out of the final months of his . David had answered the unsolicited call from Van Wagner, so no one else with the Kings would have had knowledge of the discussion. Wilcox will serve as Assistant General Manager, Jabour as Vice President of Player Personnel and Johnson as Director of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the teams G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. "The Sacramento Kings, Stockton Kings, Kings Guard Gaming and Golden 1 Center have joined forces to educate, entertain, provide support and bring acts of kindness or "Kings-ness" to the community," a spokesperson said in an email. Wilcox joins the Kings organization with nearly 20 years of experience in the NBA, including serving as General Manager (2015-17) and Assistant General Manager (2012-15) of the Atlanta Hawks. The Sacramento Kings are celebrating "916 Day" by announcing events and activities for the upcoming 2022-23 NBA Season. One day later, as the family Ford Expedition charted its course northward, Wegzyn stayed in touch with Rinehart, trying to break through their partners' bureaucracy. David breaks down during the testimonial from his mother-in-law, removing his glasses and burying his head in his hands. They estimate that the Kings are profiting hundreds of thousands of dollars a month as, in their estimate, the cost to run the shuttered facility is a small fraction of what the state is paying to rent it. Jeff calls Sommercamp and puts him on speakerphone. During this extended playoff drought, the Kings had 10 different head coaches. $500,000 a month to rent the shuttered Sleep Train Arena, most of which appear to be for existing medical facilities, Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. When Jeff had moved $250,000 of the family's savings into Sacramento Sports Partners, he told Kate the money was for a real estate fund with other investors. "I lost a job and a career I loved and excelled in. 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Director, Basketball Administration, Robbie LemonsSr. Former Sacramento Kings executive Jeffrey David was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $13 million from the team's sponsorship deals . One longtime team president finds David's plan unconvincing, noting that while franchises aggregate their market power, they're far more likely to swap data of pricing and then share the contact information for the sponsor. "It seemed out of sorts from what our morals and core values were," Peterson said. Sacramento Kings [ edit] After former Kings GM Vlade Divac, Kings assistant GM Peja Stojakovic, and Stockton Kings GM Anthony McClishand stepped down in late 2020, the Kings organization made Joe Dumars their interim executive vice president of basketball operations. One executive in the finance department of an NBA team says, "We invoice everything -- even signed contracts. Wilcox began his career in the NBA as an intern (2001-02) with the Miami Heat in their scouting and video department, before becoming a Video Coordinator with the New Orleans Hornets in 2002-03. Leaving out pertinent facts will be considered a lie. The agent gets more specific, probing the mechanics of Sacramento Sports Partners' formation. What if this is all legit? He does not believe Jeff is a victim. Just as Wegzyn returned to the office on Tuesday, confirmation arrived from Golden 1: It had sent a $9 million payment to SSP. The Sacramento Kings are having a rough go with clock operators this week. The previous June, he had purchased a $3.8 million home just blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Manhattan Beach. Six seasons split between Kansas City and Omaha, and then seven more in just K.C. A year later, David reached back out to Bland to inquire whether her offer for an upfront payment still stood. "It was particularly difficult for us because we had previously been witnesses to many occasions on which his strong moral compass was in clear view in far less profound situations," she says. 2016: Purchases beach homes FIFTEEN DAYS BEFORE David begins serving his sentence, a pressing matter lands on his docket. Now, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Wegzyn's husband, Mark, found her sitting at her kitchen table, hunched over her laptop. The cash went straight to David without the Kings knowing it existed. (3/30/20), With Golden 1 Center effectively closed because of COVID-19, the Sacramento Kings had some food on their hands and decided to donate that food to the local community. Michael McCann Jan. She wanted to move quickly. "Does this have anything to do with those FBI agents today?". [1] Kolokotronis is in her 22nd season with the Kings. "It's like a money grab.". David left for a brief stint with the NBA league office before returning to Sacramento in 2011 as CRO. He was gregarious, fond of "hugging it out," able to laugh at himself when less extroverted spirits made light of that exuberance. 3 min read. Contact Information Website www.kings.com Formerly Known As Rochester Seagrams Ownership Status Acquired/Merged She also noted that the Kings were one of many teams that agreed to pay game-day workers through the month of March and that they donated nearly 3,000 pounds of excess stadium food. Director, Digital, Content & eSports, Nicole LoscavioSr. Account Executive (Former Employee) - Sacramento, CA - October 2, 2017 Indeed Featured review Great place to work if you truly enjoy meeting new people and building relationships! We expect you to tell us everything you know, and if you plan to do anything apart from that, let's go our separate ways, because lying is worse than telling us nothing at all.". Joelle Terry Senior Vice President, Communications Joelle Terry serves as the Senior Vice President, Communications of Sacramento Kings. Wegzyn was aware of other entities associated with the Kings' basketball and real estate assets, but this one didn't sound familiar. David told his bosses that the Kaiser deal wouldn't include one, a condition they could live with given their satisfaction with the $28 million haul and the lengthy negotiation, according to David. They state that a lengthy sentence would be an act of vengeance with no practical purpose. "Why is all of our money gone?!" What if I'm wrong? Wegzyn figured a quick tour of his file directory would produce something, so on Tuesday, six days before the FBI sting in Miami, she'd had the Kings' IT department download an archive from their shared cloud system. "I need you to listen to me.". Partners in the Kings' ownership group arrived to games via private jet from one of their multiple homes, while others showed up in limousines or $100,000 sports cars. Before that, he served as a Referee Operations Analyst at the NBA league office (2013-15). [12][13] The group will join Ken Catanella, who remains with the team as an assistant GM. I am excited to have Wes, Phil and Paul join the front office, said McNair. When Governor Newsom first announced the Kings offered Sleep Train Arena to help house an expected surge of coronavirus patients, Peterson and Stone were not surprised. "He knew I was capable of it" - Ex-Sacramento Kings backup center Scot Pollard said Rick Adelman always wanted him to score. Rich tells Jeff it's imperative that he get legal protection. "If he really wanted to pay back the victims, he would've paid his earlier victims once he had a lot of money," Anderson says. Now he was a part of the action with his most wealthy counterparts, demonstrating to himself that he could succeed at the art of investment. Report this profile . Select the third team from the drop down menu. Still, Peterson and Stone don't think the Kings should be allowed to profit off the pandemic. Sacramento's also failed to field a league-average defense even once since Adelman. And even though he was earning $360,000 per year plus bonuses, just about everyone in here made more than he did. TWO DAYS LATER, David sits in Sacramento at a conference table between his two defense attorneys and across from a team from the U.S. attorney's office that specializes in white-collar crime. The Kings, in possession of the original contract, never saw the altered version. When asked to recall the last time he spoke with someone from the Kings, though, he neglects to mention the call with Wegzyn on Monday. I'll call them tomorrow. "This happened over many, many years.". As Rich pleads with Jeff, Kate rouses from her trance, shock replaced by resignation. Peterson and Stone also pointed out, unlike previous ownerships, the Kings are now subsidized by the state. Sixteen years of failure have given the Sacramento Kings ample time to amass a stunning record of futility spanning two ownership groups, four general managers, 11 coaches, countless players. I'll tell them the whole story and show them where the money is. (4/15/20), A month since the Kings last game, Kings players are still taking action as Richaun Holmes, De'Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Harrison Barnes are donating 1,000+ meals to local families. Raptors-Clippers, 10 p.m. *All times Eastern. The reasons for their failure may have been inherent to the whole project. A former Sacramento Kings executive was sentenced to seven years in federal prison Monday for embezzling more than $13 million from the NBA team. A surge of adrenaline jolted through Wegzyn's body. Grapevines and Teslas lined the driveway of Ranadive's 3-acre chateau; his glass-bottom pool was covered with flooring beneath an expansive tent. Their diverse skill sets and unique perspectives will add valuable knowledge and innovative thinking as we focus on executing our vision of building a winning culture in Sacramento.. "The monthly lease amount for Sleep Train Arena (including 4,000 parking spaces) is a discounted rate. [11], In October 2020, McNair hired three employees to his front office: former Hawks GM Wes Wilcox as assistant GM, former 76ers director of scouting Phil Jabour as VP of player personnel, and OKC Blue assistant GM Paul Johnson as director of basketball operations. The longer Jeff believes the inquiry is about the title company, the more likely it is that Sommercamp can extract the details he wants. tenants renting space in the building or revenue from the parking lots) as a result of the surge hospital.". SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A former Sacramento Kings top executive agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to siphoning $13.4 million from the team to buy Southern California beachfront properties, court . Jabour was hired by the Rockets after working as a support staff member with USA Basketball in 2006 following four years on staff with Arizona State mens basketball program. Associate Counsel, Halle CaroloDirector, Talent & Engagement, Christina VasquezDirector, Ticket Operations, Paul JohnsonVP, Player Development & Stockton Kings General Manager, Dutch GaitleyAssistant Coach/Director of Player Development, Lindsey HardingAssistant Coach/Player Development, Mark ToyodaSr. Please enter valid email address to continue. Matina Kolokotronis serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Sacramento Kings. [6], In 2007, McNair joined the Houston Rockets as the basketball operations senior analyst. In his five years in Houston, he served in a variety of scouting roles including Director of Scouting with NBA G Leagues Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2009-11). 2019: Begins seven-year sentence. David now lives at the Federal Correctional Institution in Morgantown, West Virginia, where pleasures are smaller and infrequent. Choose at least two teams from the menus below to start your trade. "It seems to come down to around 20- or $25,000 a month," Stone said. Even the head coach pulled in almost $4 million per season. From the exposed wall of the lounge, guests watched Kings players dash to and from the locker room and court for warm-ups. They put up 176 points and 153 points at the end of regulation in a. "I knew how the Kings operated," David says. It's not uncommon in the NBA for one franchise to buy assets from another -- suites, signage, logo rights -- to construct a multimarket agreement for a corporate sponsor. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Raptors-Clippers, 10 p.m. His style wasn't for everyone. "I knew how these other companies operated. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Inside the NBA's silent tension surrounding Daryl Morey, From the archives: How former ref Tim Donaghy conspired to fix NBA games, in a Kings organization often beset by palace intrigue, stay of execution that had wrested the team back from Seattle in 2013, Supplemental Privacy Policy for Singapore. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. A former top Sacramento Kings executive was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison for siphoning $13.4 million from the team. Very fast paced and high stress environment. Only the executives in charge of player personnel Tools and Resources Used by Real General Managers. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Kings, who are in third place, are an explosive offensive team; they average a league-high 120.7 points per game. The family had spent the weekend at the Ohio State Fair, where two of his three kids won goldfish. To believe that any of 2023's neo-contenders can become bonafide champs over the next few months is to believe that a once-in-a-quarter-century occurrence is about to transpire.