The man you see in the photo above is a professional gambler. An extremely successful one. His name is Billy Walters and was one of the original ?Computer Boys,? the betting group the Feds tried to put away back in the early eighties. He was found not guilty, but his troubles didn?t end there. He?s been indicted many times since. Not for bookmaking. Not for game fixing. Not for stealing. Basically, for kicking bookmaker ass. That seems to be his major crime. The prosecutors want to confiscate his golf course and a few million dollars of his gambling winnings because they say they were obtained through a criminal enterprise. Mainly, kicking major bookmaker ass, from what I can gather. The following story appeared recently in the Las Vegas Sun. This is what happens when you give law enforcement broad powers to seize property without due process? It is also proof positive that Syndicate Groups do exist, and can wreak major havoc on your bookmaker?s wallet.
Police sue for Desert Pines Course.
The authorities say a golf course was paid in part by illegal activity and funds tracked to Billy Walters. Claiming it was financed in part with the proceeds of illegal activity, the Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday sought possession of Desert Pines Golf Course. In a lawsuit filed in District Court late Tuesday afternoon, police sought forfeiture of the golf course, and-or $970,000 that police say was the product of illegal sports bets. The lawsuit claims that police tracked the money through several bank accounts controlled by Las Vegas sports gambler and golf course developer Billy Walters. "(The funds) were utilized to finance, in part, the construction costs, including labor and materials, for ... Desert Pines Golf (Course)," the lawsuit claims. Contacted Tuesday night, Walters said he was not aware of the lawsuit. But he said the desire for a forfeiture jackpot has been the motivating factor in the related criminal investigation that last month yielded an indictment against him and three other men. The Police Department also is seeking forfeiture of more than $2 million seized during the investigation. "That's what this thing has been about from day one. It's been about them wanting my money," Walters said. Ulrich Smith, the court-appointed special prosecutor who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Police Department, was not available for comment Tuesday night. The case has been assigned to District Judge Valorie Vega. One of Walters' companies, Southwest Golf, developed Desert Pines on the site of the formerly run-down Nature Park at East Bonanza and North Pecos roads, near downtown Las Vegas. The highly acclaimed public course, completed in late 1996 at an estimated cost of $20 million, is located on city-owned land that the company has leased for 50 years. The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that a Walters-owned company, Sierra Sports, placed illegal sports bets to out-of-state bookmakers. It claims that a man identified as "Kiki," whom police say placed illegal bets for Walters, transferred $970,000 from a Canadian bank to a Walters account at a Las Vegas bank on Nov. 4, 1996. On that same date, Walters had the money transferred to another account at the same Las Vegas bank, the lawsuit claims. This second account belonged to the Walters Group Money Market Account. The lawsuit claims that Walters subsequently had more than $970,000 transferred from this account to two of his companies, the Walters Group and Southwest Golf. It then was used to help finance Desert Pines, the lawsuit claims. A Clark County grand jury last month indicted Walters, his security chief, Jimmie Hanley, his computer systems operator, Daniel Pray, and John Tognino of New York on one count each of conspiracy and one count each of unlawful transactions involving a monetary instrument. Walters, Hanley and Pray face additional felony counts of unlawful transportation of a monetary instrument. Prosecutors say the men were involved in a scheme to place illegal sports bets with out-of-state bookmakers and then transport the winnings back to Nevada. The criminal proceedings against the men have been delayed pending a decision on which judge should hear the case. The most recent indictment was assigned to District Judge Michael Douglas. However, defense attorneys argue the case should properly be before District Judge Donald Mosley, who dismissed two related prior indictments. Walters and several business associates filed suit in May 1997 seeking return of more than $600,000 in cash and property that authorities seized during their criminal investigation. Smith, the special prosecutor representing Las Vegas police, on Monday filed a response asking District Judge Michael Cherry to deny that request.
Judge tosses charges against Walters.
Golf course developer Billy Walters' worries may finally be over after a judge Tuesday morning dismissed yet another indictment against the politically connected Las Vegas resident. Chief District Court Judge Mark Gibbons ruled that a third indictment already thrown out against Walters by the Nevada Supreme Court was a superseding indictment, thus rendering the original indictment returned in April 1998 moot. Unless the Nevada Attorney General's Office successfully appeals Gibbons' decision to the state's high court, Walters will never face trial on those money laundering charges. A fourth indictment cannot be sought because the statute of limitations has expired, said Chief Criminal Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner."We have to think about appealing (the ruling)," Gardner said. "We will evaluate all of our options." Walters and three associates, Daniel Pray, James Hanley and John Tognino of New York, were indicted on money-laundering charges in April 1998, several months after authorities seized about $3 million in cash in lock boxes that belonged to Walters. Authorities alleged the men unlawfully transferred proceeds from a massive sports betting operation throughout the country and overseas. The April 1998 indictment was dismissed because of defects, prompting the Nevada attorney general's office to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court. Before the high court could rule on the appeal, the AG's office obtained a second indictment against the men. The second indictment, too, was thrown out and again, the AG's office appealed. A third indictment was obtained before the high court could rule on the appeal. Ultimately, the Supreme Court agreed with the lower court's decision to toss out the second and third indictments. In the middle of the battles, however, the high court reinstated the first indictment. Walters' attorneys successfully argued that the first indictment was rendered moot by the third indictment. Defense attorneys Richard Wright, JoNell Thomas and John Moran Jr. have long argued that the attorney general's office had ulterior motives in pursuing Walters and engaged in misconduct in its dogged pursuit of him. In fact, Wright noted Tuesday that the acts alleged in the first two indictments were not even considered crimes under existing Nevada law at the time they were committed. Gibbons ruled Tuesday that he found no misconduct. After Gibbons' ruling Wright said Walters' business ventures have been impacted greatly because of banks' reluctance to finance someone who has had a criminal indictment hanging over his head for so long. Walters was not in court Tuesday and Wright said he may not yet have returned from attending the Ryder Cup in Sutton Coldfield, England. Gibbons made the right decision, Wright said. "This has been a long and ugly contested matter and we expect them to do the correct thing and not pursue further litigation," Wright said. Now that the AG's office is taking up the slack for the U.S. Attorney's Office -- which is now devoting more time to the war on terrorism -- Wright said he believes the office should have "better things to do than to pursue a six-year-old case." Moran said that finally, "justice has been done."
Nevada prosecutors end money laundering case against Walters.
The Nevada attorney general's office will not appeal a District Court judge's decision to dismiss the last remaining money-laundering charges against golf course developer and professional gambler Billy Walters. The decision ends a four-year battle to bring Walters to court on the charges. Despite the lack of a conviction in the case, Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner said Tuesday that state prosecutors are "unapologetic about the way the case was handled. The prosecution was justifiable on its merits."Walters, who has always maintained his innocence, said he was relieved. "Naturally, I'm pleased," he said. "I'm just happy it's over." The on-again, off-again case started in 1996 when police raided Walters' Sierra Sports betting office and seized some $2.8 million in cash. Authorities alleged that the defendants were using telephones to place illegal bets in New York and transport the winnings back to Nevada. Walters and two other men, Daniel Pray and James Hanley, were charged in 1998 on a variety of charges that included conspiracy and money laundering. Pray was Walters' computer systems operator. Hanley, a retired police officer, was Walters' security chief. Three indictments were dismissed a total of four times by district judges. The most recent ruling was Oct. 1 by Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons. Gardner said Gibbons' ruling was comprehensive and it appeared to offer little room for appeal, leading to the decision to terminate the case. It was not known when or if authorities would return any seized money to Walters.
Police sue for Desert Pines Course.
The authorities say a golf course was paid in part by illegal activity and funds tracked to Billy Walters. Claiming it was financed in part with the proceeds of illegal activity, the Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday sought possession of Desert Pines Golf Course. In a lawsuit filed in District Court late Tuesday afternoon, police sought forfeiture of the golf course, and-or $970,000 that police say was the product of illegal sports bets. The lawsuit claims that police tracked the money through several bank accounts controlled by Las Vegas sports gambler and golf course developer Billy Walters. "(The funds) were utilized to finance, in part, the construction costs, including labor and materials, for ... Desert Pines Golf (Course)," the lawsuit claims. Contacted Tuesday night, Walters said he was not aware of the lawsuit. But he said the desire for a forfeiture jackpot has been the motivating factor in the related criminal investigation that last month yielded an indictment against him and three other men. The Police Department also is seeking forfeiture of more than $2 million seized during the investigation. "That's what this thing has been about from day one. It's been about them wanting my money," Walters said. Ulrich Smith, the court-appointed special prosecutor who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Police Department, was not available for comment Tuesday night. The case has been assigned to District Judge Valorie Vega. One of Walters' companies, Southwest Golf, developed Desert Pines on the site of the formerly run-down Nature Park at East Bonanza and North Pecos roads, near downtown Las Vegas. The highly acclaimed public course, completed in late 1996 at an estimated cost of $20 million, is located on city-owned land that the company has leased for 50 years. The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that a Walters-owned company, Sierra Sports, placed illegal sports bets to out-of-state bookmakers. It claims that a man identified as "Kiki," whom police say placed illegal bets for Walters, transferred $970,000 from a Canadian bank to a Walters account at a Las Vegas bank on Nov. 4, 1996. On that same date, Walters had the money transferred to another account at the same Las Vegas bank, the lawsuit claims. This second account belonged to the Walters Group Money Market Account. The lawsuit claims that Walters subsequently had more than $970,000 transferred from this account to two of his companies, the Walters Group and Southwest Golf. It then was used to help finance Desert Pines, the lawsuit claims. A Clark County grand jury last month indicted Walters, his security chief, Jimmie Hanley, his computer systems operator, Daniel Pray, and John Tognino of New York on one count each of conspiracy and one count each of unlawful transactions involving a monetary instrument. Walters, Hanley and Pray face additional felony counts of unlawful transportation of a monetary instrument. Prosecutors say the men were involved in a scheme to place illegal sports bets with out-of-state bookmakers and then transport the winnings back to Nevada. The criminal proceedings against the men have been delayed pending a decision on which judge should hear the case. The most recent indictment was assigned to District Judge Michael Douglas. However, defense attorneys argue the case should properly be before District Judge Donald Mosley, who dismissed two related prior indictments. Walters and several business associates filed suit in May 1997 seeking return of more than $600,000 in cash and property that authorities seized during their criminal investigation. Smith, the special prosecutor representing Las Vegas police, on Monday filed a response asking District Judge Michael Cherry to deny that request.
Judge tosses charges against Walters.
Golf course developer Billy Walters' worries may finally be over after a judge Tuesday morning dismissed yet another indictment against the politically connected Las Vegas resident. Chief District Court Judge Mark Gibbons ruled that a third indictment already thrown out against Walters by the Nevada Supreme Court was a superseding indictment, thus rendering the original indictment returned in April 1998 moot. Unless the Nevada Attorney General's Office successfully appeals Gibbons' decision to the state's high court, Walters will never face trial on those money laundering charges. A fourth indictment cannot be sought because the statute of limitations has expired, said Chief Criminal Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner."We have to think about appealing (the ruling)," Gardner said. "We will evaluate all of our options." Walters and three associates, Daniel Pray, James Hanley and John Tognino of New York, were indicted on money-laundering charges in April 1998, several months after authorities seized about $3 million in cash in lock boxes that belonged to Walters. Authorities alleged the men unlawfully transferred proceeds from a massive sports betting operation throughout the country and overseas. The April 1998 indictment was dismissed because of defects, prompting the Nevada attorney general's office to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court. Before the high court could rule on the appeal, the AG's office obtained a second indictment against the men. The second indictment, too, was thrown out and again, the AG's office appealed. A third indictment was obtained before the high court could rule on the appeal. Ultimately, the Supreme Court agreed with the lower court's decision to toss out the second and third indictments. In the middle of the battles, however, the high court reinstated the first indictment. Walters' attorneys successfully argued that the first indictment was rendered moot by the third indictment. Defense attorneys Richard Wright, JoNell Thomas and John Moran Jr. have long argued that the attorney general's office had ulterior motives in pursuing Walters and engaged in misconduct in its dogged pursuit of him. In fact, Wright noted Tuesday that the acts alleged in the first two indictments were not even considered crimes under existing Nevada law at the time they were committed. Gibbons ruled Tuesday that he found no misconduct. After Gibbons' ruling Wright said Walters' business ventures have been impacted greatly because of banks' reluctance to finance someone who has had a criminal indictment hanging over his head for so long. Walters was not in court Tuesday and Wright said he may not yet have returned from attending the Ryder Cup in Sutton Coldfield, England. Gibbons made the right decision, Wright said. "This has been a long and ugly contested matter and we expect them to do the correct thing and not pursue further litigation," Wright said. Now that the AG's office is taking up the slack for the U.S. Attorney's Office -- which is now devoting more time to the war on terrorism -- Wright said he believes the office should have "better things to do than to pursue a six-year-old case." Moran said that finally, "justice has been done."
Nevada prosecutors end money laundering case against Walters.
The Nevada attorney general's office will not appeal a District Court judge's decision to dismiss the last remaining money-laundering charges against golf course developer and professional gambler Billy Walters. The decision ends a four-year battle to bring Walters to court on the charges. Despite the lack of a conviction in the case, Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner said Tuesday that state prosecutors are "unapologetic about the way the case was handled. The prosecution was justifiable on its merits."Walters, who has always maintained his innocence, said he was relieved. "Naturally, I'm pleased," he said. "I'm just happy it's over." The on-again, off-again case started in 1996 when police raided Walters' Sierra Sports betting office and seized some $2.8 million in cash. Authorities alleged that the defendants were using telephones to place illegal bets in New York and transport the winnings back to Nevada. Walters and two other men, Daniel Pray and James Hanley, were charged in 1998 on a variety of charges that included conspiracy and money laundering. Pray was Walters' computer systems operator. Hanley, a retired police officer, was Walters' security chief. Three indictments were dismissed a total of four times by district judges. The most recent ruling was Oct. 1 by Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons. Gardner said Gibbons' ruling was comprehensive and it appeared to offer little room for appeal, leading to the decision to terminate the case. It was not known when or if authorities would return any seized money to Walters.
