 Reputed gambling kingpin arraigned on 25 new counts
Reputed gambling kingpin arraigned on 25 new counts
By ROBERT GAVIN, Staff writer
Last updated: 9:53 a.m., Tuesday, July 22, 2008
ALBANY -- A 63-year-old quadriplegic man who reputedly ran a $57 million Internet sports betting ring from Syracuse to Albany was arraigned in Albany County Court this morning on a 25-count gambling indictment.
George Bedigian of Syracuse, who has some two dozen prior gambling-related arrests, appeared before Judge Stephen Herrick, quietly answering questions from his wheelchair in a sparsely attended court proceeding.
Bedigian pleaded not guilty to the 25 counts of the indictment, which include charges of first-degree gambling promotion, possession of gambling records and conspiracy.
The silver-haired Bedigian, who has been disabled for 42 years, told the judge his last employment was in the vending industry.
He has been described as the gambling kingpin of central New York -- despite never spending a day in prison. Following his arraignment today, Bedigian was allowed to remain free on $100,000 bail.
In April, Bedigian was identified as the reputed ringleader of what Albany County prosecutors dubbed the ``Bedigian-Carucci Bookmaking Operation.''
Authorities said the operation used a Web site in Costa Rica to solicit bets and maintain records. They said it was operated locally out of the Veteran Friendship social club on Route 9. The investigators said Bedigian ran the ring alongside Joseph ``Oink'' Carucci of Latham.
They were among 13 people charged in the reputed ring, which police said accepted wagers on college and professional basketball, football, NASCAR racing and Ultimate Fighting Championship competition.
While Bedigian had been charged with enterprise corruption, the state version of the federal racketeering law, that is not part of the present indictment.
Bedigian, represented by attorney William Dreyer, declined comment.  |