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This week, an entertainment industry accountant pleaded guilty to a felony charge for lying to federal law enforcement officials about his role in laundering illicit proceeds from an illegal gambling operation run by a former minor-league baseball player.
William Eric Fulton, 59, of Agoura Hills, California, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements.
Fulton is alleged to have provided bookkeeping, accounting, and tax preparation services for Wayne Joseph Nix, 46, of Newport Coast, a former minor-league baseball player who for nearly 20 years ran an illegal bookmaking business. Last year, Nix was charged with one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports gambling business, and one count of filing a false tax return. An FBI confidential source tied to this case, RJ Cipriani, has claimed in recent weeks that various MGM executives have involvement with Nix. Some have since been let go by the company though, to date, Gambling911.com is unable to verify such allegations.
It is alleged that Fulton repeatedly made the false assertion that he had never placed a bet with Nix during multiple interviews with federal law enforcement. They content that Fulton knowingly laundered Nix’s illegal gambling proceeds by continuing to provide financial services to Nix and providing access to a financial system.
Specifically, Fulton continued to transfer money between accounts, issue checks and wires to Nix’s gambling clients who won large bets, and helped Nix obtain bank loans to facilitate the gambling business. Between 2010 and 2020, Fulton charged Nix approximately $336,645 in professional fees for his financial services.
Former Major League Baseball player Yasiel Puig Valdés, 32, who allegedly lied to federal law enforcement investigating Nix’s illegal gambling operation, is charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements. His trial is scheduled for January 16, 2024.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
