From a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics through 53 professional fights and a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Michael Carbajal and his older brother, Danny, were inseparable. Danny coached, cheered, trained, managed and defended Michael throughout his turbulent ring career. But on Thursday, they stood apart as Danny was sentenced to 4½ years in prison for a scheme to defraud his late wife out of property that Michael and his supporters say wasn't theirs to begin with. "What is now emerging is a revised picture, that the claim of one big happy Carbajal family . . . is eroding," Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Andrew Klein said during sentencing. As a pro, Michael earned nearly $8 million in purses and won three major junior-flyweight titles sponsored by the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization. Michael entrusted the management of his fortune to Danny and his wife, Sally. Their names were on the bank accounts and the property deeds. "I trusted everything," Michael told the court. "I said, 'I'm going to become a world champion. Take care of my money; invest it for me. Take care of my mother. Take care of my kids.' " Michael then spoke out against his brother and at times pounded his chest and sobbed. "I have no access to my money," he said. "He left me broke with nothing, nothing for my kids. I had to take out loans. All that fighting, all that hard work. I want you to feel this, Danny. Feel it, man - my kids!" The rift began after Sally was murdered in February 2005. Seven months later, Danny was charged with felony theft and fraud on suspicion of transferring land and property that was deeded to him and Sally. Authorities believe Danny used false information to obtain a divorce without Sally's knowledge in 2003. Once the divorce was finalized, Danny and his two daughters used fake IDs to deed the properties to him. Sally learned they were no longer married in 2004 when she attempted to file for divorce. A judge set the matter for trial on Feb. 28, 2005, three days after Sally's body and that of her mortally injured boyfriend were found outside an apartment complex. Their murders remain unsolved. Michael repeatedly and tearfully defended his brother. But last summer, Michael called longtime friend and sometime sparring partner Ruben Castillo and told him he suspected Danny had been robbing him. Michael filed a civil suit against his brother in October. Prosecutors say Danny is currently under investigation for undisclosed reasons.
God. Imagine your brother betraying you like that. What a *****. Just shows what greed does to people.