Dan Doyle to serve 7 years in prison for embezzling from sports institute

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Institute for International Sport founder Daniel E. Doyle Jr. took a dramatic dive from his status as a visionary promoter to that of an inmate Thursday, when a Superior Court judge sentenced him to serve seven years in prison for embezzling more than $1 million from the nonprofit institute.

Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg sentenced Doyle to a total of 15 years, with seven to serve, for crimes that included forging the signatures of some of his most ardent and wealthy supporters and obtaining money under false pretenses. The remainder of the term is suspended with probation.

Doyle was also ordered to pay $550,000 to the Hassenfeld Foundation.

“The number of people you let down is innumerable,” Thunberg said to Doyle. His lack of conscience and greed fueled a seven-year criminal scheme that extinguished the nonprofit Doyle founded, foreclosing legions of students from participating in its programs, she said.

-snip-

Once lauded by powerful state politicians, educators and business leaders, the institute drew thousands of athletes and artists from around the world to the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus. Guests and speakers included such celebrities as President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Colin Powell. Performers included Aretha Franklin and the Beach Boys.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170810/dan-doyle-to-serve-7-years-in-prison-for-embezzling-from-sports-institute