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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that retired NHL hockey star Rick Tocchet
was sentenced today for his role in a multi-million
dollar sports bookmaking enterprise.
Tocchet,
43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was ordered to
serve two years probation by Superior Court
Judge Thomas S. Smith Jr. in Burlington
County. Tocchet was sentenced pursuant to
his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy
and promoting gambling, both in the third
degree.
In
pleading guilty on May 25, Tocchet admitted
that from September 2002 to February 2006,
he conspired with former New Jersey state
trooper James J. Harney and a third man,
James A. Ulmer, to operate an illegal sports
betting ring. Tocchet admitted that he was
a partner with Harney in the gambling operation,
sharing in its profits and covering losses.
“Today’s
sentence reflects the fact that Mr. Tocchet
is a first-time offender,” said Attorney
General Milgram. “But make no mistake,
he is paying a heavy price for his foray
into the world of illegal bookmaking. He
now must live with the stigma and consequences
of being a convicted felon.”
“By
partnering in this illegal gambling enterprise,
Mr. Tocchet let down many people, including
the fans who held him in high esteem and
the friends from whom he took money,”
said Director Paw. “Today’s
sentence appropriately resolves this criminal
matter.”
Supervising
Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades represented
the Attorney General at the sentencing today.
Harney,
41, of Marlton, was sentenced to five years
in state prison by Judge Smith on Aug. 3
pursuant to his guilty plea to second-degree
conspiracy, second-degree official misconduct
and third-degree promoting gambling. Harney
forfeited hundreds of thousands of dollars
in assets, including a townhouse, and was
removed by statute from his position with
the State Police.
Ulmer,
42, of Swedesboro, is scheduled to be sentenced
on Aug. 24. Ulmer pleaded guilty in December
to conspiracy and promoting gambling for
bringing in bets for the ring.
The
bookmaking ring was based in South Jersey
and the Philadelphia area but took in millions
of dollars in sports bets from all over
the country. The New Jersey State Police
Organized Crime Bureau began investigating
the ring in late October 2005 when it uncovered
information that Harney was involved in
sports bookmaking. As the investigation
unfolded, it expanded to include Tocchet’s
role as a partner with Harney in the illegal
gambling enterprise. Tocchet is currently
on indefinite leave from his position as
assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes.
The
State Police investigation painted a picture
of a highly organized sports betting system,
which in a 40-day period processed over
1,000 wagers exceeding $1.7 million on professional
and collegiate football and basketball games.
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