US Couple admit illegal Internet sports operation

19 Mar 2007

A Miami executive and his wife pleaded guilty to participating in a $3.3 billion illegal Internet sports gambling operation in New York on Friday, the Queens District Attorney's office said.

Daniel Clarin, 32, and his wife Melissa Clarin, 31, pleaded guilty in court to enterprise corruption and conspiracy charges for taking part in the operation that ran over a 28-month period, according to a news release.

Sentencing was set for April 26.

The operation took bets on sports including horse-racing, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, NASCAR races, PGA golf and professional tennis, the release said.

The couple were among 27 people indicted in November in Queens County Supreme Court for participating.

The case represents the first time Internet gambling charges were brought in the United States since President George W. Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act into law in October.

The law effectively banned online gambling by outlawing gaming financial transactions.

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