Paul M. O’Brien
United States Attorney
Eli J. Richardson
Assistant United States Attorney
(615) 736-5151
GOODLETTSVILLE FATHER AND SON INDICTED ON CHARGES RELATING TO OPERATION OF ILLEGAL NASHVILLE-BASED GAMBLING BUSINESS
Nashville, Tennessee – September 5, 2007 - Two residents of Goodlesttsville, Tennessee, a father and his son, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts related to the operation of an illegal gambling business from March 2006 until February 2007, announced Paul M. O’Brien, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleve Daniels, SAC of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and Mark Gwyn, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
The indictment charges Michael P. Williamson, a/k/a “Big Mike,” and his son, Michael W. Williamson, a/k/a “Little Mike,” 39, with conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling operation, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; conducting an illegal gambling business, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1955, and using facilities in interstate commerce to carry on unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952.
According to the indictment, Big Mike and Little Mike conspired with each other and Thomas White, Robert Gordon and Timothy Moore to conduct an illegal gambling business as defined by statute, namely a sports-betting operation based out of an office on Dickerson Road in Nashville. The indictment alleges that the business originated with an agreement between Big Mike and Thomas White, whereby White would accept 25 percent of the profits or losses, and Big Mike would accept 75 percent of the profits or losses. According to the indictment, White then rented the office on Dickerson Road, and thereafter, White and others accepted sports bets, including bets on professional football games, at the gambling office by telephone.
The indictment further alleges that point spreads for various games were obtained via an Internet web site maintained by a Nevada-based company, and that Big Mike and Little Mike paid out the gambling business’s losses and collected its winnings. The indictment also describes certain winning bets that allegedly were placed with the illegal gambling business, and then collected from Big Mike or Little Mike, during November 2006.
White, Gordon, and Moore and already have pled guilty to conducting an illegal gambling operation in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1955. All three await sentencing before United States District Judge William J. Haynes, Jr.
Mr. O’Brien stated, “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners take seriously allegations of illegal gambling activities conducted in violation of federal law. Gambling is not a victimless crime, and conduct like that alleged in this indictment must not be tolerated.”
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. The United States is being represented by United States Attorney Paul O’Brien and Assistant United States Attorney Eli J. Richardson.
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The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed not guilty and is entitled to a jury trial at which the Government would bear the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.