Michael Albanese, former race and sports book supervisor at the Palms in Las Vegas, was sentenced to 366 days in federal prison last week for his role in an illegal betting scheme at the resort. Albanese will undergo three years of supervised relief after he is released and also was ordered to help pay off 2,231 in restitution.??
Albanese apologized in court for his actions, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I know what I did was wrong,” he said. “I wish I could change it, but I can’t.” He became tearful when he explained to U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey that he has an 11-year-old daughter with Rett syndrome, a rare and debilitating brain disorder.??
Albanese pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.??
Earlier this year, Dorsey sentenced former Palms ticket writer Kassie Baker to three years of probation and ordered her to also share in the $232,231 in restitution.??
Albanese, Baker, former supervisor Matthew Kidle and bettor Charles Pecchio all were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2012 in a conspiracy to rig wagers on horse races at the Palms between 2006 and 2007. Kidle and Pecchio have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.??
The Palms investigation was part of a larger investigation into an illegal gambling ring run by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Jelinsky. In 2009, the brothers pleaded guilty to taking millions of dollars in illegal wagers in the nationwide scheme. They served federal prison time.??
The Palms cooperated in both investigations.
