Internet sports betting defendant pleads guilty

A 68-year-old Californian, Richard Allen Hancock, was sentenced to sixteen months in prison after pleading guilty to online sports betting and money laundering charges before an Oklahoma federal court this week.

In sentencing Hancock, U.S. District Judge David Russell gave him credit for cooperating with federal authorities, but ordered him to forfeit $1.45 million in addition to a million dollars he has already handed over from a lockbox facility in his home state.

Hancock originally entered a guilty plea in March this year, admitting to being a bookmaker who oversaw eight to 10 subordinate bookmakers. Hancock and another man, Teddy Mitchell, were partners in the operation.

Mitchell, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty in July for his role in the gambling business, but said he didn’t realise he was doing anything illegal.