El Dorado Hills residents admit to operating illegal gambling business at internet cafes
(FOX40.COM) — A Utah man and two El Dorado Hills residents pleaded guilty to operating illegal gambling operations at several locations across the United States, including in California, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
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According to the DOJ, James Mecham, 57, of Orem, Utah; Kurt Stocks, 49, of El Dorado Hills; and Heidi Edwards, 58, of El Dorado Hills, helped set up gambling portals at various internet cafes for their business SweepsCoach.
The games allowed users to play 'slot machine-style' games with the potential to win credits that could be redeemed for money.
Cafes then deposited proceeds into a bank account controlled by the defendants.
Between 2012 and 2017, roughly $14 million, $11 million of which were from operations in California and Arizona, were deposited into the defendants' accounts, the department said.
The three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in October and face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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