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Judge imposes lenient sentence
U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone said that Allan Richard (Mike) Campbell, 72, of 121 Fort Cherry Road, thought little of the law by consciously deciding to make a living for himself and his family through illegal means.
And, despite the crowd of people who not only attended the hearing but sent letters in support of Campbell, Cercone said that a 17-month prison sentence followed by 3 years of supervised release was necessary, not only to punish Campbell for his wrongdoing but to serve as a deterrent for others. Campbell was also fined $2,000.
"Sending a message to the community is an important part of sentencing," the judge said.
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Campbell's attorney, Paul D. Boas, said his client suffers from various ailments for which he takes medication.
Boas also explained that Campbell accepts responsibility for his crimes but he is not a criminal. Instead, the attorney described Campbell as an upstanding member of the community who is deeply loved by friends and family.
"You have a really good guy who did a bad thing," said Boas.
Allan Campbell's sentencing immediately followed that of his wife, Carol H. Campbell, 62, of the same address, who received 2 years of probation for her role in the gambling operation.
Prior to hearing her husband's fate, Carol Campbell first thanked the judge for his leniency with her, and then said, "We all know Mike's going away for a while. Just please send him home soon."
Cercone said Campbell could be released sooner for good behavior. The judge also agreed to Boas' request to recommend that Campbell be housed in the minimum security area of the federal prisons in Loretto or Morgantown, W.Va.
In May, Campbell admitted to being the leader of the ring that included sports and numbers betting and ticket selling from 2002 to 2006.
He also pleaded guilty to charges that he filed a fraudulent income tax return in 2005 and that he attempted to illegally hide the proceeds of the gambling operation. In addition, Campbell pleaded guilty to possessing firearms although he had previously been convicted of a felony.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Eberle, Allan Campbell reported zero income in 2005, despite an investigation conducted by state police and the Internal Revenue Service that found he had numerous bank accounts that showed significant deposits.
Carol Campbell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for aiding her husband in operating the gambling ring.
Allan Campbell, along with Edward Lazorchak of Cecil Township, conducted the gambling operation for numerous years. They were among 16 people charged as part of the investigation.
Lazorchak pleaded guilty in December and was sentenced in April to serve 12 months in prison.
The illegal gambling ring included the sale of multiple sets of $100 tickets every three months. The winning ticket was based on the Pennsylvania Lottery Daily Number. The holder of that ticket collected $85,000 in cash, while the operation received $15,000.
The operation also took bets on sporting events, especially college and professional football. Once a week, money was collected from the losing bettors and paid to the winners by Campbell and Lazorchak. The men then received 15 percent of the weekly profits from the losing bets.
According to Eberle, Carol Campbell helped her husband in collecting and paying out gambling proceeds. He said she had several credit cards that she used to make large purchases that were paid off within several months.
Eberle also said the Campbells purchased nine vehicles and had even paid approximately $40,000 to take their family members and members of the organization on a trip to the Dominican Republic.
On July 1, 2006, investigators conducted a raid of the Campbells' home and seized $214,000 in cash and three shotguns. They also confiscated $50,000 in cash and $65,800 in savings bonds from safe deposit boxes at Sky Bank in McDonald, and the nine vehicles.
The Campbells have agreed to forfeit all of the confiscated items as part of their plea agreement. They will, however, be allowed to keep their home.
Allan Campbell has three previous felony convictions for pool selling and bookmaking.
In 1998, Campbell was arrested on several charges including attempted homicide and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting his son-in-law, Paul Harrington. The charges, however, were dropped by former Washington County District Attorney John C. Pettit.
A connection between Campbell and Pettit has not been established publicly, but several people who testified before a federal grand jury in August 2006 said they were questioned about the men's relationship.
In January 2008, a separate grand jury was seated to hear testimony involving the former district attorney. The grand jury has been meeting since, but no action has been taken against Pettit.
Boas : 8/28/2009
He said, ""You have a really good guy who did a bad thing," said Boas." Did he really stand back and think about the stupidity of this statement?
Three strikes : 8/28/2009
In my opinion this man has thumbed his nose at the law for a very long time. Yes he was(is) a high standing member of the community but without all of his ill gotten money would he have been. I dought that very much he would have been just another working stiff. As for being convicted of a felony for the third time. He should spend the rest of his natural life in jail. He has shown in the past that he will keep doing what he was doing and who says he won't do it again. As for the amount of money that was made doring the time that he ran this gambling ring he should have to make restitution by paying to go to jail. What I mean is he should have to pay for his room and board. Because as of the day that he steps foot into jail he has 3 square meals and a bed and free health care. Now if he was such a fine upstanding person in the community he would not be in trouble with the law. Or is it that the law has looked the other way for far to long and allowed our county to become so corrupt that it thinks the bad guys are the good guys because the give out a very small piece of what they make to the community. I don't see any park or hospital wing named after the Campbells. Most of the people that support them are small bar owners who I'm sure that him being caught has put a damper on there betting and other ill gotten revinue. I'm sorry but its time for the real tax payers to take back the county and push the corupt people out.
what about the casinos... : 8/28/2009
I really dont see what the big deal is. The casinos do it every day and get praise for it. I guess if uncle sam isn't getting his money, it makes it worth jail time? the casinos sell a game with criminal odds. 1 in a1000 chance to win 85,000 by betting $100? that sounds like a great deal to me. nobody was getting taken advantage of like in the casinos.
rat : 8/28/2009
i smell a big rat here....anyone who know's these people have seen and know the rat as well.....good luck to all in prison. notice how things have settled down since some were caught.
2 bars down : 8/28/2009
As sid before He was only out to get his. He didn't care about the community. Have you seen sence all this has taken place 1 open bar and one Club have been torn down in CBG. I wonder how much of the betting and other stuff were going on in those places?????
Real Tax Payer, Want the Truth? : 8/28/2009
First of all, anybody who knows this man knows he is a great man: One that most men could only hope to be. No one can take that away from him. And, as far as real tax payers go, give me a break. This man did more for his community than any "real" tax payer in this area has done. And, yes, I am a "real" tax payer but I would not put myself in the same category as you. Jealousy and bitterness over the fact that this man led a great life while you probably wake up miserable every day has led you to be small-minded. Please don't talk about things you know nothing about. If you think he is not paying for his time in jail, you are sadly mistaken. But, you are obviously clueless when it comes to this matter. I doubt, (correct spelling by the way) you will ever measure up to the stature of man that Mike Campbell is and I hope next time you decide to speak on a subject, you know everything about it. If you want to rid this county of corruption, then elect officials who are not corrupt. It's very simple. Mike Campbell is not an elected official. He doesn't owe you or anyone anything. You were not affected by his operation, so maybe you should look to the elected officials YOU, as a "real" tax payer, pay to resolve your issues.
not a criminal? : 8/28/2009
"Boas also explained that Campbell accepts responsibility for his crimes but he is not a criminal." Give me a break! What do you call someone who repeatedly commits a crime or crimes? A criminal! That is what he is! And as for, "First of all, anybody who knows this man knows he is a great man: One that most men could only hope to be." Check back into reality, buddy! He is a criminal. Just because he paid for vacations and such for friends and family, that doesn't mean he did great things for the community. He knew his activity was criminal. Just the same as a drug dealer or prostitute. Maybe he didn't "force" anyone to do anything... just the same as a drug dealer or prostitute don't. That doesn't make what they do for a living right. Knowingly performing illegal activity makes you a criminal, not a great man.
hurt tax payers : 8/28/2009
The guy above says that Mike Campbell didn't hurt anyone with his not reporting his income is out of there mind. take a guy that makes 60,000 dollars a years and he has to pay almost 500 dollars in local tax and about 800 in state tax. Now take that and figure out what Mike Campbell realy owes the community with running a 15,000,000 dollar gambeling ring in a year? Oh I forgot he didn't even report any income for the year of 2005 so what has the community real lost ??? Maybe some roads repaved or some street lights fix there is a list of things that the community needs that all tax payers pay for. But not Mr Mike Campbell he made his money the wrong way and didn't pay taxes on it and now not only does he get to go to jail he also has hurt the community by cheating them out of the tax dollars that might have fixed that pot hole in front of your house or painted new cross walks for the school kids or may be even bought a new book for the liberay. I say as of now and forever Mike Campbell is a criminal and a 3 time felon not a piler of his community.
RELATED : 8/28/2009
I BELIEVE THIS MAN IS PROBABLY RELATED TO WASHINGTON'S MICKEY FLINN.....A PILLER OF THE COMMUNITY...CUT ME A BREAK!!!!!
: 8/28/2009
I have to agree with just about everything that was said.He knew exactly what he was doing and did not care.The only reason he was good to everyone was because he was making the money illegally.He never worked a hard job to make that kind of money.I do not know anyone else that makes that money working a real job and is that generous.He did not care about anyone else ezcept for Mike.Along with himself he brought down 16 others.He deserves everything he gets.I can not believe he only got fines 2000.00 and he made all the money.
Boas - 2 : 8/29/2009
Is this guy for real? Quote: Boas also explained that Campbell accepts responsibility for his crimes but he is not a criminal. In other words, he committed the crimes, but is not a criminal. What is Mr. Boas trying to say?
Crime Does Pay : 8/31/2009
What a joke - 17 months - $2,000 - give me a break - this is exactly what is wrong with our court system. Same old saying - it is not what you know it is who you know - and who is being paid off.
Campbells/Gambling : 9/7/2009
Why don't some of you people sweep your own doorsteps, and get off the subject of Mike Campbell!!!!
Campbells/Gambling : 9/7/2009
Considering you wrote the above note on September 7th you must be on the Campbell subject quite often. The reason we are upset is because we do not have to sweep our doorsteps - how about you????????
