The improper gaming ring led by Uncle Mick continues to yield results, as one of its top agents pleaded guilty to charges last week, as claimed by federal prosecutors.
After Justin Hines pleaded guilty, only two individuals involved in the crime are still facing charges. Today, Hines joins the leader and other co-defendants who are awaiting sentencing.
Agent for Uncle Mick’s playing ring enters a criminal plea.
Hines, who is 42 years old, will have to wait until Jan. 7 for his sentencing hearing to find out his fate. Up to now, many of the ring members who have admitted guilt have not been sentenced to prison.
This includes the most recent member to be sentenced, 25-year-old Matthew Namoff, who was a recruiter for the ring. A federal judge sentenced Namoff to two years of probation, with six months of home confinement and a $10,000 fine.
The charges against Hines allege that he engaged in accepting bets and soliciting gamblers for an unlawful sports betting platform. He shared the profits with the ringleader, Vincent “Uncle Mick” Del Giudice, and regularly met with either Del Giudice or his associate to reconcile their earnings.
Hines handled large sums of money, such as receiving $26,000 from a single bettor. He also stated that during his meetings with Del Giudice, the man provided him with hundreds or thousands of dollars on multiple occasions.
Harrison and others might face jail time.
Considering the extent of Hines’ actions and his strong connections to Del Giudice, it is possible that he may be facing a prison sentence. Two other prominent individuals involved in the scheme have already been sentenced to prison.
However, Del Giudice is also currently awaiting sentencing. Approximately a year after the band was initially indicted by the prosecution, he confessed to his guilt in February. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled at this time.
Prosecutors may choose to wait until the cases against Keith Benson and Vasilio Prassas are resolved before pursuing further action against them. Any admissions of guilt or cooperation from either party could potentially result in a more severe punishment for Del Giudice.
As of now, the only individual within the ring who has escaped any repercussions for his involvement is Casey Urlacher, the brother of retired Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. Casey was granted a presidential pardon following his conviction.
Del Giudice and his partner should not expect to receive the same outcome. It is likely that they will only be granted house arrest or parole as the best possible outcomes.
