South Carolina’s Biggest Gambling Bust Case May Go Bust Also
They are calling it the single biggest gambling bust in South Carolina history yet, thus far, nobody has faced a jury almost one year later and time is running out.
Last fall, Anderson County's Bob Mosley, Senior and J. Michael Caldwell were indicted on illegal gambling and money laundering charges. The operation, consisting of was believed to have brought in $400 million. Seized gambling equipment was hauled away during a raid of the establishment last year.
WYFF also noted that Range Rovers, Mercedes, a Maserati and a million dollar airplane were just some of the high-end toys agents seized after their lengthy investigation.
Unusual about this case is that somehow it has landed in mediation.
So how did one of the biggest gambling ring busts in South Carolina land in mediation? One of the lead defense attorneys tells WYFF News Four Investigate's Stephanie Trotter, "Mediation is the smart way to go" in this case, as Internet gambling "is a gray area." Dick Harpootlian, who represents Bob Mosley, is one of South Carolina's leading trial attorneys and former State Democratic Party Chair. He went on to say in a case this large, "Both sides have something to gain by trying to solve it through mediation. Both sides have something to lose by going to trial."
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuting Mosley and Caldwell said they do not comment on active cases. So WYFF News Four Investigates turned to the federal judge who approved the return of some of the seized cars and trucks and granted multiple extensions for the Department of Justice to review the proposed settlement, whose terms are undisclosed.
South Carolina, maybe by virtue of the fact that the state does not have any casinos, is no stranger to high profile gambling cases.
Late last year, Brett Parker, his dad and another man were found guilty of running one of the state's largest bookmaking operations. Brett Parker was already serving time for the murder of his wife and a business associate.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
