A Massachusetts man is heading to jail after he plead guilty last week to operating an illegal sports wagering scheme. Nine other suspects were indicted in the operation.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, pictured above. She announced the sentence for a man who plead guilty for an illegal sports betting operation. (Image: Boston Globe)
Lonnie Hillson, 59, of Melrose, was sentenced to one year of incarceration in Middlesex Superior Court before Judge Patrick Haggan. Hillson was also sentenced to three years’ probation, which is concurrent with the jail sentence.
The counts are organizing and promoting gambling, registration of bets, use of the phone for gambling, conspiracy to register bets, and attempted extortion.
Hillson was indicted in 2018.
This defendant ran an illegal and predatory criminal enterprise that pushed bettors into debt and tried to extort an undercover officer for money,” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement.
As part of the investigation, searches were made of eight residences, two businesses, five vehicles and a dozen bank accounts.
Betting slips, gaming ledgers, paperwork, parlay cards and tens of thousands of dollars in cash were seized, authorities said.
Hillson and his relatives, such as his father, Lon Hillson Sr., 74, and Marcia Hillson, 72, ran the illicit operation in Melrose residences, officials said.
Illegal bets were made over the telephone. A Massachusetts state trooper infiltrated the operation.
Also indicted were Dennis Willcox, 43, of Everett, Anthony DiMare, 57, of Medford, Donald Dimare, 65, of Medford, John Whalen, 52, of Medford, and Rocco Longo, 45, of Revere. Each was charged with attempted extortion.
In addition, John Rothfuchs, 62, of Boxborough and Paul Limone, 58, of Medford were indicted on organizing and promoting gambling, registration of bets, use of the phone for gambling, and money laundering. It is not clear what happened to the other cases in court.
Sports Betting Law Signed
When it comes to legal sports betting, in August, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed a law that made sports betting legal in the state. It has yet to be effective.
Massachusetts joined more than 30 other states that approved sports wagering. It took Massachusetts lawmakers more than four years to approve sports betting. It was in 2018 when the US Supreme Court paved the way for athletic wagering.
Massachusetts’ sports betting law created three categories of operator licenses. Category 1 licenses are for land-based casinos. Category 2 licenses are for horse racetracks. Category 3 permits are for fully online sportsbooks.
Category 1 and 2 licenses allow the brick-and-mortar operations to partner with online sportsbooks to take bets remotely over the internet.
Category 1 sports betting licensees can partner with up to two online sportsbook skins. Category 2 licensees can contract with only a single online sports betting operator.
Massachusetts will tax in-person sports betting income at 15% and mobile revenue at 20%.
No Betting on Most Massachusetts College Games
Under the new law, Massachusetts’ sports betting law prohibits oddsmakers from making bets on most games involving Massachusetts colleges.
But legal sportsbooks can take bets on Boston College if the team is taking part in a tournament involving a minimum of four teams. So a Boston College basketball game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament would qualify.
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