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John Dougherty, 55, of Keyport told a federal judge in Newark last month that he and an unidentified conspirator operated an online gambling ring for more than six years.
Dougherty had his own group of bettors who, with his partner's knowledge and assistance, got access to a sport betting website with their own usernames and passwords, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
The associate funded the winnings and split the proceeds from the lost bets with Dougherty, Carpenito said.
They communicated with bettors online, on cellphone calls, through texts and even via overnight delivery, while changing up phone numbers and using code names to avoid detection, he added.
In one exchange, the U.S. attorney said, Dougherty texted his associate about an expected delivery of "35K" and received the response "Let me know when the eagle has landed."
Later that day, Dougherty texted a photo of a UPS Express Box containing a substantial amount of cash sent by the bettor. “Eagle has landed," the text read. "Gonna count now.”
Dougherty forfeited $80,000 to the United States as part of his guilty plea to conspiracy to use facilities in interstate commerce to carry on a business enterprise involving gambling, in exchange for leniency at sentencing.
U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson scheduled sentencing for May 6.
Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation with the investigation leading to Dougherty’s guilty plea, secured by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Imbert of his Special Prosecutions Division..
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