A Maple Park, Illinois, bartender decided to take his case to trial rather than accept a plea bargain. D.J.’s Tavern, which was raided in March 2004, and subsequently closed, offered pub customers a roulette wheel, video poker machines, and bookmaking.
Nine people were charged with conspiracy to commit gambling, a Class 3 felony, which entails a prison sentence of up to five years. Six of the bartenders pleaded guilty to the charge of keeping a gambling place in a plea bargain. The six were sentenced to forty hours of community service, and were given a year’s probation. In addition, they were also required to testify against others involved in the case.
Two others in the roulette ring have been offered a plea bargain, and their lawyers have counter-offered. Responses to the counter-offer are expected soon. An additional four people were charged with other gambling related charges. The owner of the bar, the former manager, and the former mayor of Maple Park, Mark Delaney are all suspects in the case and the Maple Park Police Chief was charged with conspiracy to commit keeping a gambling place, conspiracy to commit gambling, and three counts of official misconduct. The police chief was acquitted of all charges in March, 2005.
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