Three more guilty pleas in US BetOnSports case

Art Margulis, Gary Kaplan’s lawyer, told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that his client was “pleased that his siblings were able to resolve their issues with the government.” All three will now avoid imprisonment under the guilty plea, having agreed to forfeit their share of an estimated us$ 7 million of profits from the online gambling business, held in offshore bank accounts.

Neil Kaplan will now serve two months in a halfway house and eight months under house arrest, while Lori Beth Kaplan will have to spend two to four months in a halfway house and six to eight months under house arrest. Penelope Tucker will serve one year probation.

The latest guilty pleas follows those of former CEO David Carruthers and the company itself, leaving Gary Kaplan as the only defendant from BetOnSports to face trial in the case. Carruthers maintains his innocence and has vowed to vigorously defend himself.

Commenting on yesterday’s guilty pleas, Assistant US Attorney Steve Holtshouser said the sentences reflect the minimal roles that Neil Kaplan and Lori Beth Kaplan played, their lack of decision-making power and their willingness to surrender their BetOnSports money.