Two men who were part of sports gambling ring that raked in more than $22 million during a 10 year operation in Lee County pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court.
Todd R. Meady and Christopher Paraldi, who are both 27 and from Cape Coral, went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Polster Chappell and admitted violating the federal Wire Wager Act.
Each man faces up to two years in prison and has agreed to forfeit illegal profits from what Sheriff Rod Shoap has called “the biggest gambling ring in Lee County history.”
Each man also has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. In exchange, prosecutors say they won’t oppose their requests for lenient sentences.
The ring operated under the names Player’s Edge and National Sports Consultants and advertised nationwide that it could give gamblers “inside information” on sports events.
Gamblers from across the country would call a 1-800 number connecting them with ring members, who went by aliases such as Niko Turner and Dan “the Man” Wilson.
The ring began selling bogus tips in September 1993 and raked in more than $22 million until it was broken up, according to federal court records.
The ring wasn’t discovered until December 2002, when a sheriff’s deputy responded to a fire alarm at a south Fort Myers office park.
The sheriff’s office arrested 14 men April 8 after a 17-month investigation that was aided by five federal agencies.
Officials also have seized more than $8 million in illegal profits, including $7 million in cash, several expensive cars, homes and about 200 pieces of sport memorabilia ranging from a set of Jake LaMotta boxing gloves to autographed photos of stars such as Joe Namath and Muhammad Ali.
A third ring member, John D. Tartaglione, 32, of Fort Myers, is to enter his guilty plea today.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert P. Barclift said seven ring members have signed plea agreements and will enter pleas in the next week to 10 days.
He said those who enter pleas may testify against seven others named in federal indictments.
“These are some of the witnesses if there is to be a trial, in addition to the undercover officers and some of the gamblers,” Barclift said.
News-Press.com
Todd R. Meady and Christopher Paraldi, who are both 27 and from Cape Coral, went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Polster Chappell and admitted violating the federal Wire Wager Act.
Each man faces up to two years in prison and has agreed to forfeit illegal profits from what Sheriff Rod Shoap has called “the biggest gambling ring in Lee County history.”
Each man also has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. In exchange, prosecutors say they won’t oppose their requests for lenient sentences.
The ring operated under the names Player’s Edge and National Sports Consultants and advertised nationwide that it could give gamblers “inside information” on sports events.
Gamblers from across the country would call a 1-800 number connecting them with ring members, who went by aliases such as Niko Turner and Dan “the Man” Wilson.
The ring began selling bogus tips in September 1993 and raked in more than $22 million until it was broken up, according to federal court records.
The ring wasn’t discovered until December 2002, when a sheriff’s deputy responded to a fire alarm at a south Fort Myers office park.
The sheriff’s office arrested 14 men April 8 after a 17-month investigation that was aided by five federal agencies.
Officials also have seized more than $8 million in illegal profits, including $7 million in cash, several expensive cars, homes and about 200 pieces of sport memorabilia ranging from a set of Jake LaMotta boxing gloves to autographed photos of stars such as Joe Namath and Muhammad Ali.
A third ring member, John D. Tartaglione, 32, of Fort Myers, is to enter his guilty plea today.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert P. Barclift said seven ring members have signed plea agreements and will enter pleas in the next week to 10 days.
He said those who enter pleas may testify against seven others named in federal indictments.
“These are some of the witnesses if there is to be a trial, in addition to the undercover officers and some of the gamblers,” Barclift said.
News-Press.com
