NEW YORK _ Craig Carton couldn't talk his way out of this one.
The acerbic former host of the "Boomer and Carton" sports talk show on WFAN was sentenced to 3 { years in prison Friday for duping investors in his phony tickets business out of $5.3 million.
The sentence capped a stunning downfall for Carton, a gambling addict who was once co-host of one of the most popular sports radio shows in the country alongside former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason. He earned $2 million a year and was a friend of numerous celebrities.
In 2016 Carton duped a hedge fund into investing $4 million into his plan to sell concerts tickets on the secondary market. He touted his connections at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn _ and falsified documents to prove the deal was legit. Prosecutors said he defrauded other investors out of an additional $1.3 million.
He spent their money on anything but tickets. He used the cash to cover gambling debts at casinos and other personal expenses. A jury found Carton guilty in November.
Carton had pleaded for mercy, citing his charitable work, gambling addiction and sexual abuse he endured as a child.
Esiason and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were among those who wrote to the court, joining Carton's call for leniency.
