Sports betting legend Billy Walters to be released early from prison

Legendary sports bettor (and convicted felon) Billy Walters is reportedly heading home after securing early release from prison.

Earlier this week, social media was abuzz after a Las Vegas television journalist reported that Walters, who was sentenced to five years in prison in July 2017 after being convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, would be released from prison by the end of this week.

On Wednesday, both ESPN and the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Walters would be released from the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida – the same institution that once housed disgraced NBA ref Tim Donaghy – on Friday or Saturday. Walters will reportedly be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence from his home in Carlsbad, California.

The 73-year-old Walters was supposed to have been eligible to apply for a home confinement transfer in January, based in part on his age, as well as the fact that he’s served more than half his sentence and the fact that his crime didn’t involve violence.