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Written by: A. Smith
Published March 18, 2025 @ 8:30 AM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A former NFL linebacker has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of more than $5 million.
John Robert Leake, 43, of Plano, Texas, admitted to running the fraudulent scheme between 2015 and 2020, soliciting millions from six victims under the guise of investing in luxury real estate, gold mines in Ghana and Alaska, and other ventures in Central America and the Middle East. Instead of using the money as promised, Leake funneled much of it into gambling and personal expenses, federal prosecutors said.
Leake, who played for the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers, convinced investors—many of whom were friends and acquaintances—that his business ventures were legitimate. He promised high returns and falsely claimed to have access to lucrative opportunities, including real estate deals in Los Angeles and Costa Rica. Prosecutors said that in some cases, Leake provided forged contracts and checks to maintain the illusion of legitimacy.
Court records show that Leake used classic Ponzi scheme tactics, paying early investors with money from new victims to keep them from growing suspicious. His largest victim lost $2.8 million in what Leake claimed was a property investment in Dubai. Another victim invested $1.7 million in supposed gold mining operations, with only a small portion of the funds actually going to such ventures.
In total, Leake’s fraudulent activities caused victims to lose $5,314,059. He was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay full restitution.
Leake’s attorney, Evan J. Davis, attributed his client’s actions to a gambling addiction, stating that Leake “feels terrible about deceiving his friends to fuel that addiction.” Leake sought treatment at a mental health clinic in Houston after learning of his indictment, where he joined support groups for gambling and substance abuse.
In a letter to the judge, Leake expressed deep remorse for his actions, writing that he “fell to [his] knees, sobbing” upon realizing the harm he had caused. He said he has since deleted gambling apps, severed ties with bookies, and hopes to speak at addiction conferences after serving his sentence.
Leake played college football at Clemson University from 2000 to 2003 and was part of the school’s 2003 Peach Bowl-winning team. He later signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent before joining the Falcons and Packers during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.
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