Gambling, Fake Investments, and a Ponzi Scheme—Ex-Packers Linebacker Jailed for $5M Fraud

LOS ANGELES – John Leake, a former NFL linebacker who briefly played for the Green Bay Packers, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison after being convicted of running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims out of more than $5 million.

The 43-year-old former player was sentenced for his role in a fraudulent investment operation that spanned from June 2015 to March 2020. Federal prosecutors revealed that Leake promised victims high returns on “lucrative” ventures in real estate, gold mines in Alaska and Ghana, and other businesses. However, these investments were fabricated, and the schemes existed only to line Leake’s pockets.

Leake’s deceptive tactics included convincing victims to loan him money under the false pretense that he was involved in profitable real estate deals and business investments. He falsely claimed to have invested large sums of his own money into these ventures, using the trust of his victims to encourage further investment. In exchange, Leake promised substantial returns, often personally guaranteeing repayment of the loans.

However, prosecutors made it clear that Leake had no intention of following through on these promises. Instead, he used the money to finance his own lavish lifestyle. Leake spent funds on personal expenses, including credit card bills, car payments, rent, and gambling, without the knowledge or consent of his victims. To cover up the scheme and keep his victims on the hook, he made partial payments to them, using a small amount of his own money and some of the funds he had stolen.

The fraudulent scheme eventually unraveled when Leake’s victims realized they had been misled. In total, he defrauded six victims out of approximately $8.1 million, resulting in a total loss of more than $5.3 million.

Leake pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of wire fraud and one count of transactional money laundering. In addition to his prison sentence, he has been ordered to pay $5.3 million in restitution to the victims he defrauded. This sentence serves as a stark reminder of how financial fraudsters can exploit trust, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.

Leake’s fall from NFL player to convicted criminal underscores the dangerous allure of false promises and the devastating consequences for those who fall prey to scams. The case highlights the importance of due diligence and caution when it comes to investment opportunities, particularly those that promise high returns with little risk.