Schuette: Game Over For Illegal Gambling Ring

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JULY 2, 2014

Schuette: Game Over for Illegal
Gambling Ring

A.G. Schuette Announces Felony Convictions for Two Southeast
Michigan Men for
Role in Criminal Sports Betting Operation

DETROIT Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his Criminal
Division has secured felony convictions against two Southeast Michigan
men for their role in an extensive sports betting ring. James Melvin
Johnson, 68, of Jackson, pleaded guilty today to Aiding and Abetting -
Conducting a Gambling Operation and Aiding and Abetting - Distributing
Cards that Were Intended to be Used to Violate the Michigan Gaming
Control Act. Both crimes are felonies punishable by up to ten years in
prison.

Johnson is the second individual convicted in this case. You can bet that
profits from illegal gambling often trigger related crimes that undermine
public safety, said Schuette. I would like to thank Lenawee County law
enforcement and the Michigan State Police for their help and hard work in
this investigation. We will continue to aggressively pursue and shut down
any illegal gambling operations wherever we may find them.

James Johnson pleaded guilty to the following crimes before Judge Gregg
Iddings on July 2, 2014 in Lenawees 2A District Court:
One count of Aiding and Abetting - Conducting a Gambling Operation, a
10-year felony; and,

One count of Aiding and Abetting - Distributing Cards that Were Intended
to be Used to Violate the Michigan Gaming Control Act, a 10-year felony.
On May 2, 2014, Thomas Demlow pleaded guilty to the following crimes
before Judge Gregg Iddings in Lenawees 2A District Court:
One count of Aiding and Abetting - Conducting a Gambling Operation, a
10-year felony; and,

One count of Failure to File a Tax Return / Filing a False Tax Return, a 5-
year felony.
The court has not yet set a sentencing date for Thomas Demlow and
James Johnson.

Background on Lenawee Sports Betting Ring

Charges against Johnson and Demlow resulted from a Michigan State
Police investigation. The investigation revealed that Kevin OConnor, 55,
of Adrian, allegedly ran a large sports betting operation for more than 15
years in Lenawee County through his flooring store, OConnor & Sons
Flooring, in Tecumseh. It is alleged that OConnor accepted wagers for
college and professional football games as well as college basketball
games.

OConnors operation is alleged to have fielded bets over the phone and
on parlay cards. The operation is alleged to have involved dozens of
bettors from Lenawee County and northern Ohio. OConnor allegedly
distributed and collected cards and payments through his flooring store.

On January 29, 2014, Schuette filed criminal charges against Kevin
Andrew O'Connor for allegedly orchestrating the sports betting operation.
Schuette also charged Deborah Kay Johnson, 62, of Tecumseh, James
Melvin Johnson, 68, of Jackson, Thomas Allen Demlow, 57, of Adrian,
and Gregory Todd Worker, 48, of Onsted.

The four defendants in addition to OConnor charged by Schuette are
alleged to have assisted O'Connor in the extensive gambling ring. James
Johnson distributed and collected betting cards at O'Connor's store, and
distributed and collected payments for card and phone bets. Demlow
allowed O'Connor to rent space at his home in Adrian to field phone
bets. Demlow also gave out lines on upcoming games to bettors and
fielded bets over the phone.

It is alleged that Deborah Johnson also distributed and collected betting
cards at O'Connor's store, and distributed and collected payments for card
and phone bets. Worker is alleged to have routinely bet hundreds of
dollars on sporting events through O'Connor and accepted betting debts
owed to O'Connor from another phone bettor on at least one occasion.
Schuette has issued freeze warrants on some of the defendants' bank
accounts.

O'Connor, Demlow, Deborah Johnson, and Worker were arraigned on
January 29, 2014 in Lenawee's 2A District Court. James Johnson
surrendered to authorities on February 10, 2014. O'Connor, Demlow,
James Johnson, Deborah Johnson, and Worker were released on
personal recognizance bonds. OConnor, Deborah Johnson, and Worker
are due in court next on July 22, 2014 in Lenawees 2A District Court at
9:00 A.M. to begin their preliminary examination.
[Attachments: photos of defendants]
-30-

james melvin johnson_ctc.jpg
thomas allen demlow_ctc.jpg

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