DETROIT -- A Michigan booster accused of illegally lending $600,000 to Chris Webber and three other Wolverines basketball players, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal conspiracy charge.

Ed Martin, who prosecutors say loaned the money to help conceal profits from gambling operations at Detroit-area auto plants, faces 2½ to three years in prison as part of a plea deal. He also agreed to cooperate with the government.

Martin, who had until Tuesday to decide whether to plead guilty or face trial, was a retired Ford Motor Co. electrician.

Prosecutor Rick Convertino previously said that any plea bargain would require Martin to discuss his involvement with the university's basketball players.

Authorities said Martin and his wife, Hilda, ran an illegal numbers game at Detroit auto plants and laundered the profits, in part through the loans to the players and their families from 1988-99. Hilda Martin also was charged with helping run the illegal gambling business.

The players reported to have received money were Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock. Webber is an All-Star forward for Sacramento in the NBA, Traylor plays for the Hornets and Taylor for Houston.

The university and the NCAA were waiting for the results of the plea or the trial before deciding whether to impose additional sanctions on the basketball program under rules that bar athletes from receiving money and extra benefits.

Martin, his wife and Clarence Malvo were charged with conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling and could have faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Martin also faced seven other counts -- having an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to launder money, three counts of laundering money and two counts of using money from illegal activities.

The government said the payments were $280,000 for Webber; $160,000 for Traylor; $105,000 for Taylor; and $71,000 for Bullock, who is playing professionally in Europe.