CLEVELAND – A former NFL player who stole money from Cleveland nonprofit groups he once ran has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
A plea agreement signed Wednesday by ex-Cleveland Browns wide receiver Reggie Rucker calls for a federal prison sentence of about two years. The 68-year-old Rucker is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
Rucker was charged last week after an FBI investigation found he had withdrawn hundreds of thousands of dollars from two groups to pay Las Vegas gambling debts and personal expenses. One of the groups hires street workers to intervene in gang disputes.
The total theft from the groups is estimated at around $100,000.
Rucker is from suburban Warrensville Heights. He played for 12 NFL seasons, including seven with the Browns. A defense attorney says Rucker accepts responsibility for his conduct.
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