Ex-Capitals owner sentenced to 20 years in prison

Then-Capitals owner Deepal Wannakuwatte and his wife, Betsy,
pose with Mike, left, and Bob Bryan of the visiting Texas Wild
after a match last year. Photo by Paul Bauman

   Deepal Wannakuwatte, the former owner of the defunct Sacramento Capitals in World TeamTennis, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday in Sacramento for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme.
   The Sacramento Bee reported that Wannakuwatte, a native of Sri Lanka who will turn 64 next week, will be eligible for parole in 17 years.

   Wannakuwatte was arrested on Feb. 20 in Sacramento on charges of defrauding banks and individual investors in his medical supply business of more than $100 million.
   U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley called Wannakuwatte "an evil person" at the sentencing, according to The Bee. One victim who lost $22 million went further, referring to Wannakuwatte as a "sociopath," "serial liar" and "serial thief."
   In a letter read by defense attorney Philip Cozens, Wannakuwatte apologized to his victims and asked forgiveness.
   The Capitals announced on Feb. 4 that they were moving to Las Vegas after 28 years because Sacramento lacks a permanent tennis facility. Shortly after Wannakuwatte's arrest, however, WTT terminated the franchise.
   The league played its 39th season in July with seven teams instead of eight. 
   The Capitals were the longest-running franchise in WTT at 28 years and won a record six league titles, including four straight (1997-2000).