Tocchet pleads guilty to sports gambling charges

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Former Philadelphia Flyers right-wing Rick Tocchet pleaded guilty on Friday to third-degree charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling in connection with his role in a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring.

Tocchet, 43, admitted during a hearing in New Jersey Superior Court in Mount Holly, N.J., that between 2002 and 2006 he conspired to operate an illegal sports gambling ring with former New Jersey State Trooper James Harney and another man, James Ulmer.

A third charge of money laundering was dropped.

The betting ring usually took in more than five bets a day totaling more than $1,000, the threshold for the promoting gambling charge. But on one day, January 1, 2006, Tocchet and Harney accepted about 17 bets on professional football games totaling some $40,000 from one individual, prosecutors said.

Police began investigating the ring in October 2005 when they found Harney was involved. It took in millions of dollars from all over the U.S. from its bases in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia.

"Mr. Tocchet found the quick profits of sports bookmaking alluring," said New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner, in a statement. "He will now face a sentencing judge for the consequences of his actions."

Tocchet's attorney Kevin Marino said his client's guilty pleas "essentially ensure that he will be sentenced to probation." Sentencing was set by Judge Thomas Smith for August 17.

Marino said Tocchet's plea "lays to rest" media speculation that he bet on, and perhaps even fixed, professional hockey games. Tocchet is on leave from his job as associate coach for the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team where he works with hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Under New Jersey law, admission of third-degree charges carries a presumption of no jail time if there are no prior convictions, but the judge could still order a prison sentence of up to five years and up to a $25,000 fine on each charge after considering all the circumstances, said Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the New Jersey Attorney General's office.

Harney and Ulmer have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and gambling charges and are due to be sentenced on June 22.