New Jersey Man Sentenced for Sports Gambling Ring

(PRESS RELEASE) - New Jersey - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a Swedesboro man was sentenced today for his role in a multi-million dollar sports bookmaking enterprise.

According to Director Paw, James A. Ulmer, 42, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Thomas S. Smith Jr. in Burlington County to two years probation, conditioned on him serving 180 days in the county jail.

The jail time is to be served during the final six months of the probationary term, and Ulmer can apply at that time for the judge to reconsider the jail term. Ulmer pleaded guilty in December 2006 to charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling, both in the third degree.

He admitted that he brought in bets for the bookmaking ring, which was run by former New Jersey state trooper James J. Harney and former NHL hockey star Rick Tocchet.

Harney, 41, of Marlton, was sentenced to five years in state prison by Judge Smith on Aug. 3 pursuant to his guilty plea to second-degree conspiracy, second-degree official misconduct and third-degree promoting gambling.

Harney forfeited hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets, including a townhouse, and was removed by statute from his position with the State Police. Tocchet, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced Aug. 17 to two years probation by Judge Smith. Tocchet pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy and promoting gambling, both in the third degree.

Supervising Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades represented the Attorney General at the sentencing today.

The bookmaking ring was based in South Jersey and the Philadelphia area but took in millions of dollars in sports bets from all over the country. The New Jersey State Police Organized Crime Bureau began investigating the ring in late October 2005 when it uncovered information that Harney was involved in sports bookmaking.

As the investigation unfolded, it expanded to include Tocchet, who was a partner with Harney in the illegal gambling enterprise, sharing in the profits and covering losses.

The State Police investigation painted a picture of a highly organized sports betting system, which in a 40-day period processed over 1,000 wagers exceeding $1.7 million on professional and collegiate football and basketball games.