A former NFL linebacker who briefly played for the Green Bay Packers has been sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that involved fraudulent investments in West African gold mines, Central American properties, and other ventures.
John Robert Leake, 43, admitted to deceiving friends and acquaintances, collecting millions of dollars under the guise of investment opportunities. However, rather than using the funds for legitimate business purposes, he spent the money on personal expenses, including gambling, as revealed in federal court documents from the Central District of California.
Federal Prosecutors Condemn Leake’s Deception
Leake’s fraudulent activities spanned five years, during which he defrauded investors of approximately $5 million. Federal prosecutors did not mince words in their court filings:
“(Leake) stole millions of dollars from friends and acquaintances through bald-faced deception,” they stated. “He lied to those who considered him a friend, convinced them to invest in business opportunities that were largely non-existent, and used their funds to either pay his personal expenses or pay back those he had already stolen from in an effort to keep his scheme afloat.”
In September, Leake pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of transactional money laundering.
Sentencing and Restitution
On Monday, U.S. District Judge John F. Walter handed down Leake’s sentence, which includes an order to pay $5 million in restitution to the six victims he defrauded.
His attorney, Evan J. Davis, spoke on Leake’s behalf, attributing the crimes to his gambling addiction:
“Mr. Leake committed these crimes based largely on his being a gambling addict, and he feels terrible about deceiving his friends to fuel that addiction. Fortunately, he has turned a corner with his treatment and is on the right path.”
Leake’s Short NFL Career
Leake had a brief career in the NFL, playing as a linebacker. He joined the Green Bay Packers in late 2005 after linebacker Brady Poppinga was injured and ruled out for the rest of the season. During his three-game stint with the Packers, he played on special teams and recorded four tackles.
Before signing with Green Bay, Leake played for the Atlanta Falcons earlier in 2005 and returned to the team in 2006. His football journey began at Clemson University, where he played from 2000 to 2003. He was a member of the Tigers’ 2003 Peach Bowl-winning team.
(This report includes contributions from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)