Six former University of Toledo athletes and two Detroit-area businessmen were indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a point-shaving ring that centered around men’s basketball and football games.

Prosecutors allege in the 20-count indictment related to the Toledo case that Ghazi “Gary” Manni and Mitchell Edward Karam paid money and offered up other gifts to several athletes between November 2005 and December 2006, during which time the two allegedly wagered about $407,500 on Toledo contests.

All eight defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit sports bribery. The six former Toledo athletes also face charges of unlawful use of interstate facilities.

The former athletes charged are: Running back Adam Ryan Cuomo, point guard Keith Junior Triplett, forward Anton Du’ane Currie, basketball guard Kashif Lashon Payne, running back Harvey Lamont McDougle and running back Quinton James Broussard.

Each count carries a prison term of up to five years and as much as a $250,000 fine.

What a shame it is that these athletes work hard to earn athletic scholarships, only to eventually wind up getting involved in a gambling ring. It has to be tough being a student athlete, but all six of these players had to think about the repercussions they faced for doing something like this.