Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

The accused ring leader of the state's largest suspected illegal gambling ring faced a judge and official charges Friday. The Madison County Prosecutor filed 71 counts against former Teamster's boss John Neal, accusing him of illegal gambling, money laundering and corruption. For 72 hours, the man prosecutors claim controlled illegal operations at dozens of central Indiana taverns sat behind jail bars uncharged. Now, after days of seizing dozens of video gambling machines, receipts, files - and more than $4 million dollars, John Lewis Neal learned the 71 gambling related charges against him. John Neal sat in front of a court video camera in the jail for his mid-morning hearing, initially confused about what had taken place. "Did you say that charges have not been filed?" he asked the magistrate, before getting another court explanation. The court set Neal's bond at $2 million dollars - the same amount investigators froze in bank accounts. "We believe Mr. Neal is a flight risk. He has bank accounts that we're not aware of, probably yet. We still believe that there's about $3 million from this enterprise that are unaccounted for and have not been seized. He has a home in Florida," explained Cummings. On federal parole until next February on a prior gambling related conviction, money isn't the only thing keeping Neal behind bars. The magistrate asked Mr. Neal if he understood that he could not be released from jail until that parole hold is lifted. Neal responded, "I understand that."

Before the court began rolling videotape of the hearing, Neal informed the court he hired Indianapolis defense attorney Richard Kamman. But Neal admitted he wasn't sure he had money to pay for representation, saying, "I don't think so, they got all my money tied up. They got everything I got tied up. What we're going to try to do is get that money loose to pay the attorney."

The Madison County Prosecutor says Neal is in for a fight. "We will resist any effort to get any of his money back," said Cummings. "It is not our plan to make a deal with him like has been made in the past. It is our plan to take his money and have that money to come to the government of this community."

The prosecutor confirms some of those who worked under Neal apart from the gambling are cooperating. Cummings says the next step is to reopen some of the bars raided and shut down. Under the plan the county would appoint a receiver and all profits would go to the coffers of Madison County. Cummings believes it will keep viable businesses open and employees earning a living legally.