FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

October 16, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST HOWARD MEYERS

IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED GAMBLING BUSINESS

IN BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA

Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today against Howard Meyers, age 58, of Rockville, Maryland, announced United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. Counts one through three of the superseding indictment re-alleges charges of conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business, conducting an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The superseding indictment adds counts four through 18 which charges Meyers with using telephone facilities between Maryland and the island of Dominica for transmission of wagering information, and using the mails and Federal Express delivery services in aid of a racketeering enterprise. The superseding indictment also seeks forfeiture of over $330,000.

According to the 18 count indictment, Meyers and others conspired from September 2003 to March 2005 to conduct and own an illegal sports bookmaking business. Meyers and others allegedly solicited prospective bettors to place wagers on professional and college football games, professional and college basketball games and other sporting events by distributing pamphlets and advertisements about their bookmaking operation and using an internet website to place wagers. Meyers and others designated several telephone numbers to be used for obtaining “line” information for upcoming sports events. Meyers and others directed bettors to place their wagers for sporting events with World Wide Wagering, Inc., an offshore wire room, and provided bettors with a business card that contained a code number, a password, a toll-free telephone number and an Internet website address for placing wagers on sporting events.

The indictment alleges that Meyers and others collected payments from losing bettors and made payments for winning wagers at various locations throughout the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. Meyers and others allegedly deposited some of the funds collected from losing bettors in an account in the name of University Liquors. Meyers would also instruct bettors to send their gambling debts by Federal Express to an address in Rockville, Maryland.

Meyers faces a maximum penalty of: 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 for conspiracy to commit money laundering; 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for conspiracy to conduct a gambling business and conducting a gambling business; 2 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for transmission of wagering information; and 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Montgomery County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Foreman, who is prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—October 16, 2006