Posted on: July 28, 2023, 10:19h.
Final up to date on: July 28, 2023, 10:19h.
A California accountant entered a responsible plea this week in a case tied to unlawful gaming. A former professional baseball participant and different athletes are linked to the scandal as nicely, authorities stated.
The accountant, William Eric Fulton, 59, of Agoura Hills, pleaded responsible on Tuesday to a rely of creating false statements.
Fulton supplied accounting providers to Wayne Joseph Nix, 46, of Newport Coast, Calif. He’s an ex-minor-league baseball participant who allegedly ran an unlawful bookmaking operation for about twenty years.
Fulton allegedly laundered Nix’s unlawful playing proceeds, prosecutors stated.
Fulton is scheduled to seem earlier than U.S. District Decide Dolly M. Gee on November 29 for sentencing.
The utmost sentence is 5 years in jail. He additionally agreed to pay a effective of at the very least $673,290.
Transfers have been made between accounts involving giant bets, prosecutors stated. Checks have been issued. Shoppers have been wired cash. Fulton additionally assisted Nix in getting financial institution loans.
Lies Advised to Feds
Fulton additionally lied to federal officers about his actions, prosecutors stated.
Mendacity to federal regulation enforcement officers in an try and cowl up legal exercise is a critical offense,” Homeland Safety Investigations Los Angeles Performing Particular Agent in Cost Eddy Wang stated in an announcement.
On three events between March 2011 and October 2019, Fulton additionally gave no-cost private loans to Nix. They totaled $1.25 million.
Nix used the cash to pay playing purchasers, prosecutors stated.
Fulton by way of Nix additionally made private bets, prosecutors stated. They have been made by way of the Sand Island Sports activities web site.
Fulton allegedly positioned 14 bets in a single day. Three have been made on a match involving one in all his purchasers.
Fulton additionally referred a number of of his purchasers to Nix. The consumer or purchasers have been to participate in unlawful playing after the referral.
In October 2021, Fulton denied understanding about Nix’s involvement in sports activities playing, and stated he was unaware Nix was a bookmaker. He additionally denied putting a wager with Nix.
The statements he made have been false, prosecutors stated.
Between 2010 and 2020, Nix additionally paid Fulton $336,645.
Different Suspects
Additionally, Nix pleaded responsible in April 2022 to a rely of conspiracy to function an unlawful playing enterprise and a rely of subscribing to a false tax return. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2024.
Nix’s associate, Edon Yoshida Kagasoff, 45, of Lake Forest, pleaded responsible in April 2022 to a rely of conspiracy to function an unlawful playing enterprise. Kagasoff was sentenced on July 5 to 6 months of probation, fined $1K, and should forfeit $3,164,563.
Additionally, Yasiel Puig Valdes, 32, a former Main League Baseball proper fielder, allegedly lied to the feds of their investigation, too.
Valdes performed for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. He’s charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements.
His trial is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2024.
The El Camino Actual Monetary Crimes Process Pressure took half within the investigation.
