Theodores plead guilty in loansharking case
Last Updated: Monday, January 31, 2005 | 10:31 PM ET
CBC Sports
Frank Theodore, 44, Ted Theodore Jr., 36, and 30-year-old Rock Theodore – all Jose's half-brothers – pleaded guilty to conspiring to charge illegal interest rates.
Ted Theodore Sr., Jose's 71-year-old father, was also among the 16 people arrested back in 2003 in connection with an alleged loan-sharking ring targeting Montreal Casino clientele.
Theodore Sr. and a fourth half-brother, Nicky, pleaded guilty last December to charges of loansharking and weapon possession.
Jose Theodore was neither charged nor investigated. (CP Photo/Tom Hanson)
Theodore Sr. will be sentenced Feb. 15 with prosecutors reportedly demanding a two-year suspended sentence; the defence wants a $30,000 fine.
Wiretaps presented in court indicated that Theodore Sr. oversaw the operations and employed his sons as collectors.
Authorities reportedly conducted 30 raids following a year-long probe dubbed 'Operation Referee' and discovered that gamblers were charged illegal interest rates upwards of 2,000 per cent on loans.
Police seized $650,000 alone from the Theodore family, which was charged with 124 offences, many of which were later dropped.
Jose Theodore himself was neither investigated nor charged.
Theodore, who made $5.5 million US last season, posted a 33-28-5 record with a 2.27 goals-against average and six shutouts in 67 appearances for the Canadiens.
The Laval, Que., native is 124-143-30 with a 2.52 GAA and 23 shutouts in 315 NHL games since being chosen in the second round – 44th overall – by Montreal in the 1994 NHL Draft.
The 28-year-old was named an all-star in each of the past two seasons.
Three summers ago, Theodore signed the richest contract in Canadiens history (three-years for $16.5 million US) after winning the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy as the league's most valuable player and top goaltender, respectively.
with files from Sports Network
