AKRON, Ohio -- A man convicted of trying to extort money from former Ohio State and NFL player Christopher "Beanie" Wells has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.
Franklin Conley, 28, was sentenced Monday and convicted of extortion-related charges earlier this year.
A message left with Conley's attorney wasn't immediately returned Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Conley and 29-year-old Patrick Griffin threatened to kill Wells and his family if they didn't pay at least $65,000 or introduce the men to a drug supplier. The men claimed they'd previously paid Wells and his brother to arrange a drug deal. Wells denied that allegation at Conley's trial.
Griffin pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to a year of house arrest.
Wells played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He was released in 2013.