Prosecutors claim that a large gambling operation in the Chicago area, which allegedly involved Casey Urlacher, extended its reach to Illinois State University.
Assistant US Attorney Terry Kinney argued in a court letter last year that Matthew Namoff, a 25-year-old college student at the time, should serve time in prison. Namoff was sentenced on August 23.
Kinney communicated in the memo through the Chicago Sun-Times:
Matthew Namoff, as an agent, managed the DelGiudice bookmaking business with oppressive tactics that promoted underage gambling. He was also a key player in the illegal enterprise.
Namoff’s illegal conduct on a university campus adds significant weight to the seriousness of the offense, especially considering his oversight of this intricate and skilled activity.
In a separate memorandum, Namoff’s defense attorney, Darryl Goldberg, admitted that his client had difficulty making friends and would occasionally make small wagers on his colleagues in an attempt to build relationships with them. In contrast, Kinney argued that Namoff was a high-stakes gambler at heart.
What’s the most recent accusation against Uncle Mick Sports?
Vincent DelGiudice led the illegal gambling ring known as Uncle Mick Sports, which operated for years and generated millions of dollars. DelGiudice has confessed to his involvement, but his sentencing is still pending.
In July, prosecutors handed down the first prison sentence in the case.
Nicholas Stella, a former Chicago police agent, received a 15-month prison sentence for his involvement in a scheme. In addition to his role in the scheme, Stella was also found guilty of multiple instances of domestic battery against his girlfriend.
Urlacher, the brother of former Bears legend Brian Urlacher, was one of the individuals who did not face any consequences. In one of his last acts as President, Donald J. Trump granted a full pardon to the younger Urlacher.
Despite some of his former colleagues serving jail sentences, Urlacher has been re-elected as the governor of Mettawa, Illinois.
There are a total of 10 accused in the case. While there are still more court dates scheduled, only Stella has been sentenced to jail time so far.
Namoff seems to have a possibility of entering next.
Why is Illinois State’s existence in this situation so problematic?
Engaging in any form of improper gambling is risky, especially when it involves individuals who are young.
In Illinois, individuals must be 21 years old to legally participate in activities such as placing bets. It is likely that if there is a significant presence of illegal gambling on college campuses, many young individuals are involved. Sometimes, a typical college student will turn 21 during their time at university.
Due to being students, they probably have limited funds to gamble with, if any at all, considering the significant amount of student debt in the US.
Legal Illinois casinos require all consumers to be at least 21 years old. In order to sign up, individuals must provide identification and the last four digits of their Social Security number.
