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Pocono News Section
Schuylkill Co. Man Pleads Guilty to Gambling & Drug Charges
Schuylkill Co. Man Pleads Guilty to Gambling & Drug Charges - Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 6:05PM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday, Feb 17, 2010 @ 06:05pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A Schuylkill County man who was implicated on gambling charges and in connection with a drug ring admitted his guilt Wednesday morning.
Michael Stockunas made his plea while in Scranton federal court. Up until Wednesday morning, Stockunas had maintained his innocence. It's a move that could send him to prison for up to 48 years.
Stockunas ignored questions as he left the federal courthouse.
The first charges Stockunas pleaded guilty to involved drug conspiracy.
In November 2008, Stockunas was one of more than two dozen suspects nabbed in OPERATION SCHUYLKILL ICE. Investigators say the operation was a "meth ring" that brought drugs from Las Vegas to Pennsylvania.
The gambling ring that Stockunas pleaded guilty to involved wagers that were placed between January 2003 and his arrest in October 2008. Prosecutors say in all, hundreds-of-thousands, if not millions of dollars, was involved.
Stockunas' attorney Stephen Ellwood declined to comment on Wednesday's guilty plea.
Federal prosecutors say besides Michael Stockunas, his brother Scott and other people also helped in the gambling operation. The bets would involve sports teams and the Pennsylvania lottery's Daily Numbers.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. | | |
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