Former Detroit Lions player Pacino Horne sentenced as feds level drug allegations
Former professional football player Pacino Horne avoided being sent to federal prison Wednesday for stealing almost $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
Horne, 41, of Inkster, a former Detroit Lions and Toronto Argonauts player and hero of the 2012 Grey Cup, was sentenced to four months of home detention, five years' probation, 250 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine in a case that aired allegations that he turned to drug trafficking after his professional sports career. The community service must involve something other than coaching youth sports, U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman said.
The sentence came six months after Horne pleaded guilty to wire fraud and after prosecutors said he spent an economic injury disaster loan on buying a Philly Cheesesteak restaurant. The criminal case coincided with an FBI investigation into what agents called Horne's drug-trafficking organization that, so far, has not led to federal drug charges.
Prosecutors wanted Horne to spend as much as 14 months in federal prison while Horne's lawyer requested no prison time and one month of home confinement.
More: Pro football star leads secret life as drug-dealing fraudster with rap world alias: docs
More: Pro football star leads secret life as drug-dealing fraudster with rap world alias: docs
The Ypsilanti native's football career started at Grand Rapids Community College two decades ago and led to Central Michigan University, a tryout with the Detroit Lions and the height of Canadian professional football.
Horne was undrafted and had a tryout with the Detroit Lions in 2007. He was signed by the team as a free agent in 2009 but was cut in April.
Three years later, after playing in football's minor leagues, Horne signed with the Argonauts as a free agent.
His 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2012 Grey Cup championship game was hailed as a pivotal moment in helping lead the Argonauts to a 35-22 victory over the Calgary Stampeders.
rsnell@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Former Detroit Lions player Pacino Horne sentenced as feds level drug allegations
