Rick Tocchet Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Promoting Gambling for Operating a Multi-Million Dollar Sports Gambling Ring

May 25, 2007 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that retired NHL hockey star Rick Tocchet pleaded guilty today to criminal charges for his role in a multi-million dollar sports bookmaking enterprise.

Tocchet, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty today to charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling, both in the third degree, before Superior Court Judge Thomas S. Smith Jr. in Burlington County. The charges are contained in a criminal accusation filed by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.

Tocchet admitted during the hearing that from September 2002 to February 2006, he conspired with former New Jersey state trooper James J. Harney and a third man, James A. Ulmer, to operate an illegal sports betting ring. The New Jersey State Police Organized Crime Bureau began investigating the ring in October 2005 when it uncovered information that Harney was involved in sports bookmaking. The betting ring was based in South Jersey and the Philadelphia area but took in millions of dollars in bets from all over the U.S., investigators determined.

"Mr. Tocchet found the quick profits of sports bookmaking alluring," said Attorney General Rabner. "Of course, they also are illegal. He will now face a sentencing judge for the consequences of his actions."

Tocchet admitted during the plea hearing that he was a partner with Harney in the gambling operation, sharing in its profits and covering losses. He admitted, generally, that the betting ring took in more than five bets a day totaling more than $1,000, the threshold for the promoting gambling charge. However, in pleading guilty to the conspiracy charge in the accusation, he also admitted specifically that in a single day, Jan. 1, 2006, he and Harney accepted approximately 17 bets on professional football games totaling roughly $40,000 from one individual.

Judge Smith scheduled Tocchet’s sentencing for Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. Under New Jersey law, third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison. Third-degree gambling offenses also carry a criminal fine of up to $25,000.

"Today’s guilty plea is a fair and appropriate disposition for the crimes committed by Mr. Tocchet," said Criminal Justice Director Paw.

"I want to commend the State Police detectives who built a strong case from this complex and highly organized illegal sports betting ring, which over a 40-day period processed over 1,000 wagers exceeding $1.7 million on professional and collegiate sporting events," said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the State Police.

Supervising Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades, head of the Division of Criminal Justice -Organized Crime & Racketeering Bureau, represented the Attorney General at today’s plea hearing.

Tocchet, who spent more than half of his 18-year NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers, took an indefinite leave of absence from his position as assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes after charges were filed by the New Jersey State Police in February 2006.

On Aug. 3, Harney, 41, of Marlton, pleaded guilty before Judge Smith to conspiracy and official misconduct, both in the second degree, and third-degree promoting gambling. He faces up to seven years in state prison and forfeited hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets.

Ulmer, 42, of Swedesboro, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 to third-degree charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling. Ulmer faces a jail term of up to 364 days under his plea agreement.

Harney and Ulmer are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Smith on June 22.

As part of the State Police investigation, search warrants were executed at a number of locations and voluminous records of sports betting were seized, along with computers. The Division of Criminal Justice employed the criminal provisions of New Jersey’s racketeering and money laundering statutes to seize currency and other proceeds of the illegal gambling activity.

Source: New Jersey Attorney General

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