Former Sacramento World TeamTennis Owner Being Charged With Fraud

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 24th February 2014

MEN'S SEMIFINALS OF 2006 US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Former Sacramento World TeamTennis Owner Being Charged With Fraud

epa00813430 A ball boy removes a ball that got stuck in the net when Roger Federer of Switzerland served to Nikolay Davydenko of Russia during the men's semifinals on the thirteenth day of the 2006 US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York on Saturday 09 September 2006 EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

There was a reason for Las Vegas stepping in to buying the Sacramento World TeamTennis franchise other than just wanting pro tennis back in the city. The Sacramento businessman and owner of the city’s now terminated World TeamTennis franchise has been arrested in a federal fraud case.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Deepak Wannakuwatte was named in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento and was arrested last week. A 63-year-old native of Sri Lanka, the main case involves Wannakuwatte’s medical supply business, International Manufacturing Group.

According to an arrest warrant filed by FBI Agent Paul Artley, the 63-year-old Wannakuwatte has been under investigation since September by the FBI, the IRS and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp for his alleged role in a scheme involving International Manufacturing’s dealings with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to the warrant, an investor gave Wannakuwatte $500,000 a few years ago and just got a $5,000 payment from Wannakuwatte last week. “This appears to be a lulling payment made in connection with an ongoing fraud scheme,” the FBI agent wrote.

While the Capitals had success on court, winning six league championships, Wannakuwatte isn’t the first owner of the team to run into legal problems. In 2010, the team’s ticket receipts were confiscated to satisfy a court judgment against the team and former owner Lonnie Nielson, who later pleaded guilty to grand theft charges.

Wannakuwatte became involved in the Capitals after another former owner, Bob Cook, filed for bankruptcy in 2011.Wannakuwatte has been involved with the team the past two years.

Interestingly, Sarah Wannakuwatte, daughter of Deepak Wannakuwatte, said when the team’s move was announced it was the team’s inability to find a permanent stadium in Sacramento that prompted the move. She never mentioned her father’s legal troubles. “The attendance was great. It was really the permanent home we were looking for,” she said.

Topics: 10sballs, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, World TeamTennis Deepak Wannakuwatte

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10sBalls_com says:

February 24, 2014 at 7:25 am

Former Sacramento World TeamTennis Owner Being Charged With Fraud – http://t.co/SOeQGG5zif @WorldTeamTennis #tennis #news #WTT
ikesenmarble says:

February 24, 2014 at 7:50 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Former Sacramento World TeamTennis Owner Being Charged With Fraud – http://t.co/SOeQGG5zif @WorldTeamTennis #tennis #news…