United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

STAMFORD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SPORTS GAMBLING CONSPIRACY

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM FORTE, 52, of 18 Robertson Lane, Greenwich, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to conspiring to operate an illegal sports gambling business in the Stamford area. FORTE and four others previously were named in an Indictment charging that from approximately September 1999 through approximately October 2002, the defendants conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed, and owned all or part of an illegal sports bookmaking business. According to the Indictment, the bookmaking business violated various Connecticut state laws prohibiting gambling.

In the course of the court proceeding today, FORTE admitted that he helped to operate a sports bookmaking business that accepted wagers from bettors on football and basketball games. FORTE admitted that he helped staff the bookmaking operation's office at an apartment located at 20 Depinedo Avenue in Stamford. This apartment was used as the bookmaking office during the 2000-01 football season. FORTE further admitted that he accepted sports wagers from bettors and gave out betting odds (line information), and collected money from losing bettors. FORTE admitted that losing bettors paid a 10 percent commission on the total value of the lost wagers (for example, a $100 losing bet paid $110). FORTE admitted that between January 6, 2001 and January 14, 2001, the bookmaking business accepted over $400,000 in sports bets from over 100 individuals.

Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns scheduled FORTE's sentencing for May 25, 2004. At sentencing, FORTE will face a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Biran and the Organized Crime Strike Force Unit of the United States Attorney's Office.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov