CLOCKER IN PENN NATIONAL CASE SIGNS PLEA DEAL, TO COOPERATE
Jul 16, 2014 22:44:58 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Jul 16, 2014 22:44:58 GMT -5
CLOCKER IN PENN NATIONAL CASE SIGNS PLEA DEAL, TO COOPERATE WITH FEDS
by Ray Paulick
PR
Danny Robertson, the Penn National clocker who is one of three people facing federal criminal charges for defrauding the public, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and has entered into a plea agreement that will be considered in a Harrisburg, Pa., court room next week.
On June 25, Robertson signed the agreement admitting his guilt in a scheme to commit wire fraud by accepting cash to falsify workouts of horses and transmitting that bogus information to Equibase, the official data collection agency for Thoroughbred racing in North America.
In some cases, the indictment said, Robertson would assign times faster or slower than the horses actually worked or provide times for horses that never came onto the track for timed workouts at all.
The maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000.
In exchange for a recommendation of a more lenient sentence from U.S. Attorney William Behe and dismissal of any other charges (except for tax law violations), Robertson agreed to provide “all information known to the defendant regarding any criminal activity, including but not limited to” those related to his indictment.
William Caldwell, federal judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, is not bound by the plea agreement. A termination hearing is scheduled in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg next Tuesday at 10 a.m.
In addition to agreeing to submit to interviews by investigators and attorneys, testifying before grand juries, hearings and trials, Robertson also agreed to take a polygraph examination “to determine whether the defendant has breached” the agreement.
Two trainers indictment in the case recently received continuances.
Attorneys for Patricia Rogers are engaged in plea negotiations with the U.S. attorney and received a 60-day continuance on July 7. Her trial date has been set for Sept. 8.
Attorneys for David Wells filed a motion on July 11 asking for more time to finalize an agreement with the federal government. His trial date has been re-set for Nov. 3 in the event a final agreement with prosecutors is not reached.
Charges against trainer Samuel Webb were dismissed after Caldwell ruled the allegations by the U.S. attorney failed to meet the definition of the criminal violations filed against him.
by Ray Paulick
PR
Danny Robertson, the Penn National clocker who is one of three people facing federal criminal charges for defrauding the public, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and has entered into a plea agreement that will be considered in a Harrisburg, Pa., court room next week.
On June 25, Robertson signed the agreement admitting his guilt in a scheme to commit wire fraud by accepting cash to falsify workouts of horses and transmitting that bogus information to Equibase, the official data collection agency for Thoroughbred racing in North America.
In some cases, the indictment said, Robertson would assign times faster or slower than the horses actually worked or provide times for horses that never came onto the track for timed workouts at all.
The maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000.
In exchange for a recommendation of a more lenient sentence from U.S. Attorney William Behe and dismissal of any other charges (except for tax law violations), Robertson agreed to provide “all information known to the defendant regarding any criminal activity, including but not limited to” those related to his indictment.
William Caldwell, federal judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, is not bound by the plea agreement. A termination hearing is scheduled in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg next Tuesday at 10 a.m.
In addition to agreeing to submit to interviews by investigators and attorneys, testifying before grand juries, hearings and trials, Robertson also agreed to take a polygraph examination “to determine whether the defendant has breached” the agreement.
Two trainers indictment in the case recently received continuances.
Attorneys for Patricia Rogers are engaged in plea negotiations with the U.S. attorney and received a 60-day continuance on July 7. Her trial date has been set for Sept. 8.
Attorneys for David Wells filed a motion on July 11 asking for more time to finalize an agreement with the federal government. His trial date has been re-set for Nov. 3 in the event a final agreement with prosecutors is not reached.
Charges against trainer Samuel Webb were dismissed after Caldwell ruled the allegations by the U.S. attorney failed to meet the definition of the criminal violations filed against him.
