Illinois-based gambling entrepreneur, facing fraud, bribery, and deceitful practices charges among others, is pleading for a measure of mercy. Following his conviction, the magnate is staring down a possible imprisonment term of up to 20 years.
The man in question, James T. Weiss, was proclaimed guilty in the month of June this current year, and is now in a state of anticipation concerning his punishment from US District Judge Steven Seeger. Weiss, in pursuit of leniency in his sentencing, is hoping for a 27-month sentence.
By way of background, Weiss stood accused, and was consequently found guilty, of illegally influencing government officials to rally for and successfully pass laws that his venture could exploit for profits. His firm, known as Collage, specializes in the production of sweepstakes machines that Weiss aimed to have sanctioned in Illinois.
For the purpose of accelerating his legislative agenda, Weiss promised state Rep. Luis Arroyo monthly payments of $2,500. However, when the sweepstakes law didn’t materialize within the Illinois gambling bill, Weiss hatched a plot with Terry Link, a former senator and the primary advocate of the gambling bill.
Upon exposure of this collusion, Link opted to collaborate with law enforcement with the objective of moderating his judicial penalty. Conversely, Arroyo was indicted with additional bribery infractions and was staring at a possible 20-year incarceration period. The former representative was ultimately sentenced to close to 5 years.
Giving verdict on Arroyo’s case, Judge Seeger, it appears, may not be as lenient as Weiss is hopeful of regarding his own sentence.
At A Standstill: Legal Status of Sweepstake Machines in Illinois
Weiss was persistently proactive for the authorization of the sweepstakes machines and has contributed over $80,000 to causes advocating their legalization. His vast network enabled him to yield some sway to an extent that he was poised to influence the enactment of certain laws.
One such acquaintance, Alderman Gilbert Villegas, put forth the argument that sweepstakes machines were prevalent in Illinois, whether politicians condone it or not, hence they ought to be either prohibited outright or be regulated.
Currently, sweepstakes machines in Illinois are in a somewhat ambiguous legal status, reflective of other less conventional gambling offerings in various other states, such as skill games.
In an unrelated event, Illinois authorities recently moved “from incarceration towards rehabilitation” by offering former convicts employment opportunities in state casinos. Even though these individuals remain forbidden from positions like slot attendants and dealers, they now have the potential to occupy roles such as waiters, housekeepers, chefs, porters, among other posts.
