A former financial manager for professional athletes--including...

A former financial manager for professional athletes--including Brian Downing of the Angels and former Dodger Leron Lee--pleaded not guilty to felony charges involving the alleged theft of $195,800 from 11 of his clients.

Attorney General Bob Corbin’s office said Howard Jay Golub, 41, pleaded innocent in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix to five counts of fraud and 19 counts of theft.

A scheme allegedly involving a fraudulent trucking operation took a total of $164,800 from George Foster, formerly of the New York Mets; Lionel Hollins, formerly of the Philadelphia 76ers; Art Howe, Texas Rangers coach; Bob Knepper of the Houston Astros; Lance Parrish of the Philadelphia Phillies; Louis Orr of New York Knicks; and Downing and Lee.

The other scheme, according to the indictment, was to have involved investments in a firm called Arizona Auto Locators, and allegedly involved at least $31,000 from Cedric Maxwell of the Houston Rockets; Steve Ontiveros of the Oakland A’s, and Rich Karlis, of the Denver Broncos. Golub’s hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9.