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Alleged Bookie's List Released

POSTED: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
UPDATED: 7:59 am CST February 6, 2008

A list released by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday has some alleged gamblers exposed, but not subject to prosecution, according to the city’s top lawyer.

The list belonged to former World Series of Poker finalist Richard Lee, who police said was running an illegal online gambling operation.

The list had more than 3,200 entries of people who allegedly placed bets with Lee, but District Attorney Susan Reed said it would be difficult to prove any of them ever placed bets with Lee.

"What is a crime is if you place a bet with a bookie," she said. "But this doesn’t give you dates, it doesn’t give you amounts, it just puts a name on a list."

The list has names, addresses, phone numbers and other information including comments about the betting allegedly taking place. The list was released to the public after a decision from state Attorney General Greg Abbott calling for its release with some names and information redacted.

"There are some recognizable last names, but there isn’t anything earth shattering on the list," Reed said. "You know, I can tell you my name’s not on it."

The list was among evidence seized by police in a 2006 raid on his Shavano Park home. In a plea agreement to future charges, Lee forfeited $2.7 million on a Class A misdemeanor.

According to Reed, though, the list does not mean her office will pursue charges against those on the list.

"Being the number of names on here, being a Class C misdemeanor… the cost of that would be incredible," she said. "(It's) not something I’m interested in spending a huge amount of taxpayer money on."

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