Fixer Pleads Guilty

A Phoenix investment banker has pleaded guilty to being part of a plot to fix games in 1994 with two former Arizona State University basketball players, a published report says.

The Tribune, a newspaper serving suburban Phoenix, reported that Joseph Gagliano Jr., 29, pleaded guilty Dec. 19 to one count of conspiracy to commit sports bribery.

The newspaper quoted deputy U.S. District Court clerk Shirl Dorfman as saying the plea agreement was sealed and that Gagliano was scheduled to be sentenced June 1.

Gagliano did not return a message left with a woman who answered the telephone at his home. His lawyer, Tom Marlowe, also did not return a telephone message.

Gagliano is one of four men indicted for conspiring with former ASU players Stevin “Hedake” Smith and Isaac Burton to shave points in four 1994 games the Sun Devils were favored to win.