Federal grand jury indictment accuses three of offering sports betting

SealofMissouriA federal grand jury has unsealed its latest indictment in a case that accuses three men of running a sports betting operation out of the small Missouri town of Joplin. Clyde A. Jeffries, 76 followed William Lisle, 57 and Kenneth B. Lovett, 72, into the courthouse to answer 16-counts against them. The court alleges they used the “Internet to transmit wagering information” including “placing bets on sporting contests” as part of a gambling business between Jan. 1, 2003, and Feb. 8, 2011.

Lisle is also accused under the same indictment of 15 counts of money laundering. It relates to the accusation he sent money from the operation to Costa Rica via FedEx in order to avoid being caught out by authorities. The indictment also requests that Lisle forfeited $98,263 that was found at his house by law enforcement authorities.

The third indictee, Jeffries, currently lives in Las Vegas and the court alleges he used the Internet “to transmit wagering information” between Oct. 25, 2010 and Feb. 8, 2011. This is in addition to the earlier dates mentioned.

The Joplin Globe reports the story was first made public back in 2008 when a police lieutenant was fired because the Joplin Police Department “could not afford to compromise that investigation” or its relationship with the FBI. At his appeal, Lt. Geoff Jones said the FBI questioned him about the sports betting operation and whether he knew a local bookie suspected of being involved.

No other details have yet emerged and the court case, as far as we know, is still ongoing.