DaytonDailyNews.com

By Ryan Cook

Staff Writer

Former Springboro football standout W. Brad Lamb began serving a 67-month sentence this month after pleading guilty in federal court to bank fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return, according to Internal Revenue Service spokeswoman Nancy Hatfield.

Between May 2004 and May 2005, Lamb, 40, of Huntersville, N.C. attempted to obtain more than $1 million in money and property by falsifying loan documents, transferred more than $21,000 from the business to his personal account, and filed a false tax return in 2004 by failing to report about $459,000 of income, according to the charges against him.

Facing up to 43 years in prison, Lamb pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 15 in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, N.C.

The Springboro High School graduate played only two years of football as a running back for the Panthers, and was captain of the football, basketball and track teams.

The 5-10, 145-pound Lamb, who was once clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds, enrolled at Anderson (Ind.) University and concentrated on running track. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

He joined the Anderson football team as a junior, playing wide receiver. With three years of football eligibility, he was on his way to a third season of more than 1,000 yards receiving before he broke his leg during his final season.

After recovering from the injury, his 40-yard dash time was slower as he worked out for NFL scouts in 1991, but he was still drafted in the eighth round by the Buffalo Bills, and saw brief action for the Bills in 1992 and 1993.

Lamb returned to Warren County in 1994, where he worked at several jobs while also teaching Sunday School and participating in mission trips to Mexico.

He went to work for Nations Title Agency, and in 2000 was promoted by Nations Title Agency and transferred to North Carolina, where he moved with his family.

In 2001 Lamb and two others founded Lighthouse Title Agency, which prepared and executed mortgage closings on home purchases. Two years later the two partners sold their interest in the company to Lamb, according to court documents.

During a series of family tragedies, the business began to struggle, according to court records, and Lamb began transferring funds between the business and his personal account.

"Even without those personal issues, Mr. Lamb was ill-prepared to manage Lighthouse Title on his own without skilled employees and advisors," court documents stated.

Lamb is married and has five children. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4507 or rycook@coxohio.com.