Former Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram had 27 months tacked onto his 92 month jail sentence yesterday after jumping bail to watch his football star son play in the Sugar Bowl. Ingram—who was sentenced in 2008 on charges of money laundering and bank fraud—had already been granted one extension to go see Mark Jr. finish his freshman season at the University of Alabama, so when he asked for a second reprieve, he was denied. But on the date the 44-year-old was supposed to surrender himself, he was a no-show; on game day officials found him in his underwear, stationed in front of a TV screen in a Michigan motel room.
Ingram's lawyer lobbied for a lenient 12-month extension, but the judge showed no mercy, slapping him with the maximum penalty. "I do this with a heavy heart," said the judge. "You and your family have contributed a great deal to sports. It tears my heart out that its ending up this way." In the courtroom, the ex-Giant apologized profusely, observed the News. "So many people with 'celebrity status' think they are above the law," said Ingram, who helped the Giants win a Super Bowl 18 years ago. "I'm here to say that is not the case here. I know with bad decisions come consequences and I'm here to accept those consequences."
Since leaving the NFL in 1996 those bad decision have already resulted in a six-month sentence for possession of counterfeit money in 2001, a year in jail for stealing a credit card from a golf course in 2004 and a felony charge (later dismissed) for breaking into a car to steal a purse, according to the Post. "If this was the first time you were here, I'd sympathize with your situation," said the judge on Monday, "but it's not."
