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Long time Mets clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels was about to be arrested on Wednesday for his role in a sports memorabilia scheme whereby he is accused of stashing away club uniforms and equipment said to be worth millions. His stolen stash included jerseys, bats and balls autographed by players, including those connected to the Mets' 1986 championship team.
According to reports, some of the loot was stored at a storage facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Which is the home of the Mets' spring training site.
The memorabilia scheme stemmed from a gambling investigation. Samuels was linked to the gambling probe, which ultimately resulted in his suspension last November. Samuels had served as the clubhouse manager for over 27 years.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, who has been aggressively going after reputed sports betting rings over the last few years, including those that operate offshore, was overseeing the investigation.
Though he has plead guilty on the gambling charges involving bets on sporting events, Samuels is expected to be charged only in the memorabilia matter.
In 2005, the team’s groundskeeper, Dominic Valila was one of 36 people charged by the Queens District Attorney's office with participating in a $360 million gambling ring that had ties to the Bonanno crime family.
- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
