Rick Tocchet, a former NHL player and assistant coach, will serve two years probation for running an illegal sports gambling ring. He could have served 5 years in jail, but those having pleaded guilty to third- or fourth-degree crimes are unlikely to serve any time for their crimes. And Tocchet was sorry for being involved in a sports betting venture that had been run for five years.
His “partners” in the venture were James Harney, a New Jersey state trooper, who was sentenced to five years in prison, and James Ulmer, to be sentenced on the 24th of August. Being charged, Rick Tocchet was placed on indefinite leave from his job, while, James Harney had to give up his badge.
The case became a big story in 2006. Some of the bettors are said to be connected to hockey. But there is no evidence of betting on hockey. At the same time, the betting was heavy on other sports. Thus, 40 days before the charges the ring handled $1.7 million.
As the officials claim, bettors won’t be charged.
