The anti-online gambling drive in Kansas City that started as a grand jury probe some time ago claimed its tenth victim this week when James J. Moretina became the tenth accused to enter a guilty plea.
Moretina appeared before a federal court presided over by U.S Magistrate Judge Robert E Larsen, admitting that he conducted an illegal sports bookmaking business from March 1st 2006 to March 31st 2009, through which some $3.5 million passed.
The online gambling ring operated through free telephone numbers and internet websites based in Costa Rica, offering US gamblers sportsbetting facilities.
Part of Moretina’s pleas involved the forfeiture $6 000 to the US government. Sentence is now awaited and could be as high as up to five years imprisonment or $250 000 in fines.