Just days before America’s biggest betting day, New York authorities have dropped indictments on five defendants – including two former police officers – for operating an illegal online sportsbook that handled over $4m in wagers.

On Wednesday, the five defendants were arraigned in state Supreme Court on Staten Island, where each of them entered not guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling before being released on their own recognizance. A conference date has been set for March 21.

Quoting from the Richmond County District Attorney’s indictment, SIlive.com reported that the two ex-cops – 68-year-old Ciro Barone and 78-year-old Francisco Muro – were key members of a classic credit betting ring that operated from December 2014 to January 2016.

Also indicted were Barone’s son Paul, Robert Rossi and Robert Glazewski. The latter two were described as “master agents” who managed betting activity from a wire room and set up online accounts for gamblers with password-protected websites.