Internet Gambling: Man Jailed for Refusing to Testify

One more Kansas City man was jailed for refusing to testify in an Internet gambling investigation. 

Nicholas Zicarelli became the 10th person jailed for declining to testify, his attorney, Kenneth Hensley, said at a contempt hearing in Kansas City.

"He's a law-abiding citizen who doesn't want to be dragged into this investigation," Hensley said.

Zicarelli claims to have only been a customer of the gambling company.

Zicarelli was called before the grand jury earlier this fall but declined to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right not to give evidence that could tend to show that he had committed a crime, according to a report in the Kansas City Star.

More from the Star:

Zicarelli was called before the grand jury earlier this fall but declined to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right not to give evidence that could tend to show that he had committed a crime.

A judge then gave him immunity from prosecution, but Zicarelli persisted in his refusal. On Monday, Kays found him in contempt and ordered Zicarelli jailed for up to 18 months or until he agreed to tell what he knows to the grand jury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Becker said the grand jury had a right to hear evidence about violations of U.S. laws.

"A law-abiding citizen has to make a decision," Becker said. "Do I obey the law, or do I protect my bookmaker?"

Ann Bennett, a friend of the family, accused Becker of profiling Italian Americans in the gambling investigation while his father confronted the Assistant U.S. Attorney in the courtroom hallway accusing him of ruining his son's life while challenging him to investigate more "serious crimes". 

Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com