3 plead guilty in online gambling case

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Three men who helped promote the online gambling firm BetOnSports have pleaded guilty to federal charges.

William Hernan Lenis, his son, Will Lenis, and nephew Manny Lenis entered the pleas Wednesday in St. Louis. Attorneys for the Miami men said they were minor players caught up in a high-profile investigation.

The U.S. attorney's office in St. Louis in 2006 accused BetOnSports, its executives and others of illegally accepting bets online. Later that year, the government settled civil charges against BetOnSports and permanently barred the company from accepting any bets from U.S. gamblers. The company itself pleaded guilty last year.

The case has been watched closely by the multibillion-dollar online gambling industry.

Officials with the U.S. attorney's office in St. Louis declined to comment on Wednesday's pleas, citing pending cases against BetOnSports founder Stephen Kaplan and former chief executive David Carruthers.

William Lenis, 55, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of gambling paraphernalia. Authorities said his company, Mobile Promotions, sent motor homes to sporting events around the country to promote BetOnSports. Will Lenis, 28, and Manny Lenis, 29, worked with him in promoting BetOnSports, the government alleged.

William Lenis also admitted that his company, Direct Mail Expertise, mailed ads for BetOnSports from 2000 through 2006.

Will Lenis pleaded guilty to transmission of wagering information. Manny Lenis pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of failing to pay a wagering tax.

Other charges against the men were dropped and the government agreed to drop charges against William Lenis' daughter, Monica Lenis.

William Lenis' attorney, Alan Ross, said the plea agreement avoided a long and costly trial.

"These are the marketing people that do direct mail, the advertising," Ross said. "They have nothing to do with the operation of the Web site, gaming - nothing. The government has launched this campaign against Internet gambling. Unfortunately, they sometimes leave in the wake the people who were not necessarily involved."

Richard Sindel, the attorney for Manny Lenis, said his client was a bit player in the case. He said he was pleased with the deal, which could result in probation and no jail time.

Sentencing for all three men is set for Oct. 24.

The charges in the BetOnSports case were filed using a 1960s-era law known as the Wire Act, which prohibits placing bets on sports events over the phone.