Five arrested in gambling ring

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Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EL PASO, Texas -- Five El Paso residents were arrested and charged with operating a nationwide, multimillion-dollar sports gambling operation that accepted bets from hundreds of people and made a $300,000 profit on this year's Super Bowl, the FBI said.

The organization, which investigators say began operations in 1993, used the Internet and mail-outs to accept bets from hundreds of people, Al Cruz, FBI spokesman, said.

Agents from the Internal Revenue Service and FBI also seized six vehicles and several thousands of dollars, Cruz said.

The investigation began in January 1999, and the five men "allegedly participated in illegal activities since 1993, but it could be longer," Cruz said.

People who knowingly place illegal sports bets also break the law, Cruz said.