A Hawaiian man was caught running an online gambling operation and a federal judge sentenced him to nearly two years in prison.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Leslie Kobayashi handed down sentencing for Eric Ford, 45, after he pled guilty and turned over almost $130,000 in cash, a Rolex watch and a vehicle.
Ford was charged with operating an illegal online gambling operation as well as financial structuring. He fixed transactions so they fell just under the radar of federal reporting requirements.
U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni said that the gambling business was operated out of Aloha Springs Water Company in Kailua-Kona. Sports bets were accepted online and over the phone and gambling debts were collected.
According to prosecutors, there are seven others charged in this case.
