Report: Black Friday Principal John Campos Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Charge
On Tuesday, Forbes reported that Black Friday defendant John Campos has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors and will dodge a trial set for April 9 in New York.
Campos, the former vice chairman of SunFirst Bank in Utah, was indicted on April 15 on charges of violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, conspiracy to violate UIGEA, operating illegal gambling businesses in violation of the Internet Gambling Business Act of 1970, and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Three sources told Forbes on Tuesday that Campos has pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge.
The news comes one day after fellow Black Friday defendant Chad Elie pleaded guilty to conspiracy, a charge that will likely force him to spend six months to a year in prison. Elie was set to go to trial with Campos but avoided a trial by entering the plea bargain with prosecutors. His sentencing will take place on Oct. 3, 2012.
Campos and Elie were arrested on April 19, 2011, four days after being indicted by the Department of Justice for their involvement in illegal online poker operations. Attorneys for each man filed motions to dismiss the case, arguing that the UIGEA does not apply to poker because it is a game of skill rather than chance. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan did not dismiss any of the charges, stating, “It would be inappropriate [to dismiss any count] for lack of proof at this point in time.”
We'll bring you more on this story as it develops.
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