Defense cries foul in gambling case: Lawyers and some others familiar with the Tocchet probe say mob allegations are among the hype that has gotten out of hand

State authorities allege that [Jim Harney], of Marlton, partnered with [Rick Tocchet], an assistant coach under [Wayne Gretzky] with the Phoenix Coyotes, to run a nationwide bookmaking operation. Harney, Tocchet and James Ulmer, a Woolwich man accused of helping the pair take bets, have been charged...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inKnight Ridder Tribune Business News p. 1
Main Author George Anastasia and Jennifer Moroz
Format Newsletter
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Tribune Content Agency LLC 21.02.2006
Subjects
Attorneys
Bars
Celebrities
Criminal investigations
Gambling
Law enforcement
Official misconduct
Organized crime
Professional hockey
State laws
State police
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Summary:State authorities allege that [Jim Harney], of Marlton, partnered with [Rick Tocchet], an assistant coach under [Wayne Gretzky] with the Phoenix Coyotes, to run a nationwide bookmaking operation. Harney, Tocchet and James Ulmer, a Woolwich man accused of helping the pair take bets, have been charged with promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy. Harney, who authorities believe accepted wagers while on patrol and who has been suspended without pay from his job, also was charged with official misconduct. [Gregory Pagano] said Wednesday that he had discussed the case with his client, who at first said he had no idea who Harney was. Only after seeing Harney's picture did [Anthony Staino] -- a former bartender himself -- recognize him "from when he worked in the bar business," Pagano said. Investigators say Harney and Tocchet met when Harney tended bar at Legends and Tocchet was a Flyer in the early 1990s -- a time when Philadelphia celebrity mob figures Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and members of his entourage frequented the club. Merlino has been in jail since 1999, at least a year before, the state alleges, Harney began taking bets.