{"id":283015,"date":"2023-07-28T22:19:58","date_gmt":"2023-07-29T03:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=283015"},"modified":"2023-07-28T22:19:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T03:19:58","slug":"california-illegal-gambling-operation-leads-to-accountants-guilty-plea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/california-illegal-gambling-operation-leads-to-accountants-guilty-plea\/","title":{"rendered":"California Illegal Gambling Operation Leads to Accountant\u2019s Guilty Plea"},"content":{"rendered":"

A California<\/a> accountant entered a guilty plea this week in a case tied to illegal gaming<\/a>. A former pro baseball player and other athletes are linked to the scandal as well, authorities said.<\/p>\n

\"Yasiel
Yasiel Puig Valdes, pictured above. The baseball player faces a trial as another suspect recently pled guilty in the gambling probe. (Image: AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The accountant, William Eric Fulton, 59, of Agoura Hills, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a count of making false statements.<\/p>\n

Fulton provided accounting services to Wayne Joseph Nix, 46, of Newport Coast, Calif.\u00a0He is an ex-minor-league baseball player who allegedly ran an illegal bookmaking operation for about two decades.<\/p>\n

Fulton allegedly laundered<\/a> Nix\u2019s illegal gambling proceeds, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

Fulton is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee on November 29 for sentencing.<\/p>\n

\n

The maximum sentence is five years in prison. He also agreed to pay a fine of at least $673,290.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Transfers were made between accounts involving large bets, prosecutors said. Checks were issued. Clients were wired money. Fulton also assisted Nix in getting bank loans.<\/p>\n

Lies Told to Feds<\/h2>\n

Fulton also lied to federal officials about his activities, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

Lying to federal law enforcement officials in an attempt to cover up criminal activity is a serious offense,\u201d Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang said in a statement.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On three occasions between March 2011 and October 2019, Fulton also gave no-cost personal loans to Nix. They totaled $1.25 million.<\/p>\n

Nix used the money to pay gambling clients, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

Fulton through Nix also made personal bets<\/a>, prosecutors said. They were made via the Sand Island Sports website.<\/p>\n

Fulton allegedly placed 14 bets in a single day. Three were made on a match involving one of his clients.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fulton also referred one or more of his clients to Nix. The client or clients were to take part in illegal gambling after the referral.<\/p>\n

In October 2021, Fulton denied knowing about Nix\u2019s involvement in sports gambling, and said he was unaware Nix was a bookmaker. He also denied placing a bet with Nix.<\/p>\n

The statements he made were false, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

Between 2010 and 2020, Nix also paid Fulton $336,645.<\/p>\n

Other Suspects<\/h2>\n

Also, Nix pleaded guilty in April 2022 to a count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and a count of subscribing to a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2024.<\/p>\n

Nix\u2019s partner, Edon Yoshida Kagasoff, 45, of Lake Forest, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to a count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business. Kagasoff was sentenced on July 5 to six months of probation, fined $1K, and must forfeit $3,164,563.<\/p>\n

Also,\u00a0 Yasiel Puig Valdes, 32, a former Major League Baseball<\/a> right fielder, allegedly lied to the feds in their investigation, too.<\/p>\n

\n

Valdes played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians.\u00a0He is charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

His trial is scheduled to start on January 16, 2024.<\/p>\n

The El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force took part in the investigation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A California accountant entered a guilty plea this week in a case tied to illegal gaming. A former pro baseball player and other athletes are linked to the scandal as well, authorities said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":283020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,60],"tags":[81905,13766,81928],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCalifornia Illegal Gambling Operation Leads to Guilty Plea<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An accountant entered a guilty plea in a case tied to illegal gaming. 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