Legends Sports’ Luke King found guilty; Macho Sports guilty pleas

The former CEO of Panama-licensed online sportsbook Legends Sports has been found guilty on all charges.

Bartice ‘Luke’ King was one of 34 individuals indicted in April 2013 by the US Department of Justice. The US Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma charged King and the others with taking online and telephone wagers from US residents via operations based in Panama and Costa Rica. The indictment prompted Panamanian authorities to revoke Legends Sports’ online gambling license, after which the site’s customers were transferred to WagerWeb.

The 44-year-old King, who was released on $1m bail in August 2013, opted to fight the charges and his trial began two weeks ago in federal court in Oklahoma City. On Thursday, the jury found King guilty of conducting an illegal gambling business and engaging in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. A date for sentencing has yet to be set.

The US Attorney’s office said Legends had handled over $1b in wagers from US residents over its 10 years of operation. The site utilized local agents on the ground to settle up cash transactions. King used his share of the proceeds to purchase mansions in Florida and Texas, investments he will likely forfeit once sentencing is pronounced.