State not pursuing Walters

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

The Nevada attorney general's office will not appeal a District Court judge's decision to toss out the last remaining indictment against Las Vegas golf course developer and professional gambler Billy Walters.

The decision officially ends a four-year battle to bring Walters into court on money-laundering charges.

"We very carefully reviewed the judge's ruling and order in the case and we decided there is not sufficient grounds to warrant an appeal," said Chief Criminal Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner. "We still believe the case was meritorious factually, but we don't think the judge left us grounds for an appeal."

Walters and three associates, Daniel Pray, James Hanley and John Tognino of New York, were indicted on money-laundering charges in April 1998, several months after authorities seized about $3 million in cash in lock boxes that belonged to Walters.

Authorities alleged the men unlawfully transferred proceeds from a massive sports betting operation throughout the country and overseas.

An April 1998 indictment was dismissed because of defects, prompting the attorney general's office to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court. Before the high court could rule on the appeal, the AG's office obtained a second indictment against the men.

The second indictment, too, was thrown out and again, the AG's office appealed. A third indictment was obtained before the high court could rule on the appeal.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court agreed with the lower court's decision to toss out the second and third indictments. In the middle of the battles, however, the high court reinstated the first indictment.

Walters' attorneys convinced Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons earlier this month that the first indictment was rendered moot by the third indictment.