Three Plead Guilty

August 26, 2008

William Hernan Lenis, his son Will Lenis, and nephew Manny Lewis have all plead guilty to federal charges stemming from their involvement in online gambling. The three men helped promote the online gambling firm BetOnSports and entered their pleas Wednesday in St. Louis.

Their attorney’s said that they were simply minor players caught up in a much larger investigation that really did not have much to do with them. The US Attorney’s Office had accused them and the online casino of illegally accepting bets online. They settled with BetOnSports and permanently barred the company from accepting US bets. They had pled guilty last year.

Lenis was accused of promoting the online gambling firm though “interstate transportation of gambling paraphernalia.” His company had sent motor homes around the country to promote the online gambling site. The other two accused worked with him and were thereby guilty as well according to the government.

Lenis admitted to the transfer and to mailing ads for the online gambling site as well. Manny Lenis pled guilty to failing to pay a wagering tax. Their lawyer maintained that they were small players in this, and that the plea agreement avoided a long and costly trial.

The deal that they are going to get from the government will basically amount to probation – and hopefully no jail time. Their sentencing is scheduled for October 24th.
 

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