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NEWS
United States Department of Justice Christopher J. Christie, U.S. Attorney |
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| Assistant U.S. Attorney JASON M. RICHARDSON 856-968-4869 |
erns1010.rel FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 10, 2007 |
Probation Officer Admits Running an Illegal Poker Operation (More) |
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| Greg Reinert, PAO Public Affairs Office |
856-757-5233 973-645-2888 |
Breaking News (NJ) http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/index.html |
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CAMDEN – A New Jersey probation officer pleaded guilty today to running an illegal poker gambling operation, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
Gordon Ernst, Jr., 33, of Mt. Laurel, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to a one-count Information. Judge Rodriguez released the defendant on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 14.
At his plea hearing, Ernst admitted that between March 2006 and June 2007 he was involved in running an illegal gambling operation, namely a poker enterprise, that operated in New Jersey and elsewhere. Ernst admitted that he conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed or owned all or a part of that gambling business, which included at least five individuals, including himself.
On June 8, 2007, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant on the gambling parlor which was located on Delsea Drive in Westville and seized items used to support the gambling operation.
The charge of conducting an illegal gambling business carries a statutory maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross profits or other proceeds.
In determining an actual sentence, Judge Rodriguez will consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.
Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.
Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge J.P. Weis in Philadelphia, IRS Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William Offord in Newark, with the ongoing investigation.
The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Richardson of the Criminal Division in Camden.
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Defense Attorney: Robert Madden, Esq. Philadelphia