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Cover Stories Summer/Fall 2005 Former Lincoln Park Execs Convicted of Conspiracy Worcester, Massachusetts: Daniel Bucci, former CEO and general manager of Lincoln Park, Nigel Potter, former chief executive of Wembley, the track's British parent company, and the track itself were each found guilty of one count of federal conspiracy charges Aug. 8. Bucci and Potter also were found guilty of several wire fraud charges. Both men face up to five years in prison; Lincoln parks faces a maximum fine of $500,000 The charges stemmed from a 22-page indictment returned in U.S. District Court September 2003, after a two-year investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI and Rhode Island State Police. Prosecutors charged that Bucci and Potter conspired in meetings and by fax to propose a bribe to a high-ranking Rhode island legislator in an attempt to gain legislative support of additional video lottery terminals for the dog track, and to block state approval of a proposed tribal casino. It was the second time the case went to trial. The first trial, which was held in Providence, ended Feb. 24 when U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked on 20 counts, including the underlying bribery-conspiracy charges. The second trial was moved to Massachusetts because of the intense publicity about the case in Rhode Island. [See back issues of GNN beginning with the Fall 2003 for background details. - Ed.] Wembley Sells U.S. Dog Tracks On July 18, Wembley PLC, Lincoln Park's British parent company, finalized the sale of the Rhode Island racetrack and its Colorado racetrack properties to BLB Investors for $435 million. The interim director of the new Division of State Lottery, Beverly E. Najarian, July 25 awarded BLB a video-slots license. The license is reportedly worth $5.3 billion over the next 15 years.
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