In the Republican Primary Election that appointed Senator Dan McConchie won, one opponent was Casey Urlacher.

Now, news comes from the Chicago Tribune that Urlacker has been indicted:

Urlacher is currently the Mayor of Lake County’s Mettawa.

Justin Hines, 40, of Algonquin was also indicted, as was Todd Blanken, 43, of Cary

Urlacher, Hines and other “agents” enlisted new gamblers, collected cash and paid out winnings.

They “were paid a commission based on a percentage of the gamblers’ losses,” according to the Tribune.

Below are the Primary Election Results:

Urlacher won McHenry County. [And he advertised on McHenry County = Blog, while the other candidates did not.]

Urlacher’s names come up in the indictment as follows:

“On or about December 16, 2018, CASEY URLACHER asked VINCENT DELGIUDICE to create an online log-in and password for a new gambler on VINCENT DELGIUDICE’s gambling website.

“On or about December 16, 2018, VINCENT DELGIUDICE called Company A and asked for a log-in and password for a new gambler for CASEY URLACHER with a $500 maximum bet, a maximum wager for the week of $3,000 and a $1,000 settle up figure…

“On or about December 21, 2018, in Oak Brook, Illinois, CASEY URLACHER gave VASILIOS PRASSAS an envelope containing gambling debts owed to VINCENT DELGIUDICE.

“On or about December 21, 2018, in Oak Brook, Illinois, VASILIOS PRASSAS gave an envelope containing gambling debts owed by CASEY URLACHER to VINCENT DELGIUDICE, stating, ‘This is Casey’s.’

“On or about December 26, 2018, CASEY URLACHER spoke by phone with VINCENT DELGIUDICE and asked VINCENT DELGIUDICE to shut down Gambler C’s account until Gambler C paid a gambling debt. ..

“On or about December 26, 2018, after Gambler C wired CASEY URLACHER $3,000, CASEY URLACHER texted DELGIUDICE and directed VINCENT DELGIUDICE to turn Gambler C’s account back on…

“On or about February 1, 2019, CASEY URLACHER met VINCENT DELGIUDICE in Lemont, Illinois, and paid him money owed for gambling losses.”

= = = = =

Here is the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

Ten Defendants Charged with Illegally Conducting Multi-Million Dollar Sports Gambling Business

CHICAGO — Ten defendants have been charged in federal court with conspiring to illegally conduct a multi-million dollar sports gambling business in the Chicago area.

VINCENT DELGIUDICE, also known as “Uncle Mick,” directed an operation that accepted wagers from as many as 1,000 gamblers on the outcome of professional and amateur sporting events, according to a nine-count indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. 

Delgiudice paid a service fee to a foreign sportsbook for use of its platform, and recruited gamblers to place wagers on a website,  www.unclemicksports.com, according to the charges.  Delgiudice sometimes communicated with representatives of the sportsbook via an anonymous, end-to-end encrypted messaging application to ensure their communications remained secret, the indictment states.

The indictment alleges that Delgiudice also recruited several individuals to work on behalf of his gambling operation. 

These agents enlisted new gamblers and worked with Delgiudice to collect or pay out cash depending on the outcome of wagers, the indictment states. 

Delgiudice paid the agents a commission based on a percentage of losses incurred by the gamblers they recruited, the charges allege.

A law enforcement search of Delgiudice’s residence in Orland Park seized more than $1.06 million in cash; silver bars and jewelry valued at $347,895; and gold coins valued at $92,623.  The indictment seeks forfeiture of these items, as well as Delgiudice’s residence.  It also seeks a personal money judgment against Delgiudice of $8 million.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ankur Srivastava, Terry Kinney, and Abigail Peluso. 

The FBI’s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative (ISG) is designed to tackle illegal sports gambling and combat threats of influence from criminal enterprises.

The indictment charges Delgiudice, 54, with one count of conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business, one count of conducting an illegal gambling business, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and six counts of money laundering. 

The indictment charges eight alleged agents of Delgiudice’s operation with one count of participating in the gambling conspiracy and one count of conducting an illegal gambling business: MATTHEW KNIGHT, also known as “Sweaters” and “McDougal,” 46, of Mokena; JUSTIN HINES, 40, of Algonquin; KEITH D. BENSON, 49, of Lemont; TODD BLANKEN, 43, of Cary; NICHOLAS STELLA, 42, of Chicago; MATTHEW NAMOFF, 23, of Midlothian; CASEY URLACHER, 40, of Libertyville; and VASILIOS PRASSAS, 37, of Chicago. 

The tenth defendant, EUGENE DELGIUDICE, also known as “Gino,” 84, of Orland Park, allegedly assisted in the collection or paying out of cash to gamblers recruited by Vincent Delgiudice. 

Eugene Delgiudice is charged with one count of participating in the gambling conspiracy and one count of conducting an illegal gambling business. 

Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  Each money laundering count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the other counts in the indictment are each punishable by up to five years.  If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. 

Meanwhile

House Republicans report,

Sports wagering now imminent in Illinois. Springfield crossed the final hurdle this week to legally open “sports betting windows” at Illinois casinos. These betting windows will operate in a manner similar to betting windows at racetracks and Las Vegas casinos. Bettors will be required to physically go to the casino to place their bets on major sporting events for which odds will be posted. The Illinois Gaming Board believes these windows will open in time for the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in March.

Pottersville, here we come.

And yesterday, check out the hosts to this fundraiser: