Former NBA player Kermit Washington, best known for a devastating on-court punch to fellow player Rudy Tomjanovich, was sentenced Monday to six years in federal prison for committing fraud through an extensive charity scam, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas City announced.
Washington, 66, "abused his fame and status to promote a charity scam by which he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars that he diverted to personal spending on lavish vacations, shopping sprees, and even plastic surgery for his girlfriend," the news release reads, in part.
Washington raised the money by telling donors it would be used in Africa to help starving and HIV-positive children. He pleaded guility in federal court in November in Kansas City to making a false statement on his tax return and aggravated identity theft.
In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay almost $1 million in restitution.
Washington played for four NBA teams from 1973-82 and briefly with the Warriors in '87-88.
He was with the Lakers in 1977 when he delivered "The Punch" to the Rockets' unsuspecting Tomjanovich, who would be hospitalized with a fractured skull and broken nose and jaw that required extensive reconstructive surgery.
Washington was suspended 60 days for the punch.
