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PROSECUTORS WON'T PURSUE CASE AGAINST BILL WALTERS Bill Walters Says He is Relieved the Case is Concluded By Glenn Puit, Las Vegas Review Journal, 10-30-02, P. 3B It's official: The lengthy money laundering prosecution of Las Vegas gambler and golf course owner Bill Walters is over. On Tuesday afternoon, Nevada Chief Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner confirmed that prosecutors have decided not to appeal a District Court judge's decision to dismiss the last remaining charges against Walters. Despite the lack of a conviction in the case, Gardner said, state prosecutors are "unapologetic about the way the case was handled. The prosecution was justifiable on its merits." Walters, who has maintained his innocence, greeted the news with relief. "Naturally, I'm pleased," he said. "I'm just happy it's over." The on-again, off-again case started in 1996, when police raided Walters' Sierra Sports betting office. They seized some $2.8 million in cash. Authorities alleged that the defendants were using telephones to place illegal bets in New York and transport the winnings back to Nevada. Walters and two other men, Daniel Pray and James Hanely, were charged in 1998 on a variety of charges that included conspiracy and money laundering. Pray was Walters' computer systems operator. Hanley, a retired police officer, was Walters' security chief. Three indictments were dismissed a total of four times by district judges. The most recent ruling was Oct. 1 by Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons. Gardner said Gibbon's ruling was comprehensive and it appeared to offer little room for appeal, leading to the decision to terminate the case. It was not known when or if authorities would return any seized money to Walters. Walters' attorney, Richard Wright, said the decision to end the case was overdue. "With the history and record of this case, pursuing further litigation would figuratively have been the equivalent of rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic," he said. "This case was over." WORKING TOGETHER TO ATTAIN FAIRNESS | ||
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