A well-known name in Alabama sports broadcasting is now at the center of a major criminal case. Mike Raita,two decades as the for ABC 33/40, has been indicted and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Raita, 67, was arrested on April 2 and charged with using his public position for personal gain. He posted a $25,000 bond and was County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore confirmed the arrest followed a grand jury indictment.
The allegations stem from Raita’s time as the executive director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, where he served from 2020 to 2024. According to state examiners.
The Hall of Fame advertised the car for sale back in December 2021, listing it simply as a “1968 Chevrolet, as is” and directing interested buyers to a Talladega P.O. Box. Raita reportedly purchased the car in 2023 for $15,000,
Investigators also claim Raita’s wife purchased a 1998 Ford F-150 from the commission for $1,000, further raising suspicions about the couple’s access to insider deals.
The indictment came in the wake of a damaging audit that uncovered roughly $236,000 in missing funds from the International Motorsports Hall of Fame between 2019 and 2024.
Raita’s legal team has stated he plans to plead not guilty, maintaining he did nothing wrong and that the purchases followed proper procedures. However, Alabama law treats the misuse of public office as a serious felony, carrying a potential sentence of two to twenty years in prison.
For a man who spent decades as a trusted voice in sports, the fall from grace has been swift and severe. As the case moves forward, Raita’s once-prominent reputation now hangs in the balance.