Texas Family Busted For Running One Of The Largest Illegal Sports Betting Operations Ever

Three of the same family in Texas have pleaded guilty in federal court after having been busted for running one of the largest illegal operations in the state and the country.

Larry Tillery, his wife, Judy Kay, and son Brian were able to keep their illicit enterprise running for 3 decades and didn’t get caught by the law enforcement. They were able to cover for their criminal activities by using family-owned business…

…Daylight Motors, a used car dealership, and launder the funds gained from their bookmaking job. According to the US Department of Justice, that dealership helped the process as much as $52 million in illegal bets from 2011 to 2016.

Up To 10 Years in Federal Jail

After 30 years, their gambling enterprise started crumbling and they were arrested and charged for several crimes. The 69-year-old, Larry, the leader of this whole operation, and his son pleaded guilty when appearing before a judge this past Tuesday and itted that charges about tax evasion and illegal monetary gain are true. 62-year-old Judy pleaded guilty to manipulating financial transactions and deceiving tax authorities.

Their fall began in 2014 when an undercover agent found out that if you’re interested in high-stakes gambling in Beaumont, Texas, you should see Larry. Reportedly…

…an agent found out that the family was ready to take bets as high as $100,000 on sporting events. This information led to a formal investigation with surveillance and wiretaps and in February 2017, the law enforcement was able to arrest Mr. Tillery and his wife.

US Attorney Joseph Brown said

“The Tillerys ignored state and federal gambling laws and profited tremendously from a criminal enterprise. We intend to collect every bit of the money judgment that will be issued against them and we expect Larry Tillery’s prison sentence to send a message to those who profit from illegal bookmaking.”

They made a deal with prosecutors…

…and pleaded guilty to all the charges but their sentencing will be held at a later date. They will still most likely face jail time. The patriarch of the family could spend as much as 10 years in a federal prison cell while his wife and son could get up to 5 years. But…

…that not all! They will also have to pay a judgment of $32 million and forfeit $1.7 million in cash that was confiscated during the investigation.

After the Tillery’s appeared in front of the judge, their family lawyer, Chip Lewis, stated:

“Today is the last step in Mr. Tillery’s efforts to handle his business with the IRS. The Tillery family sincerely appreciates the overwhelming love and offered by so many good people across Southeast Texas. I have handled quite a few cases and I have never encountered a more beloved man. Mr. Tillery’s kindness and generosity has benefited countless folks in this community.”

Source:

“Everything’s bigger in Texas, including illegal sports gambling”, Eric Gibbs, June 27, 2019.