Kings Santy Pleads Guilty to Operating Illegal Gambling Business

BOISE—Kings Daniel Santy, 44, of Meridian, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to one count of operating an illegal gambling business, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Santy appeared today before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

At his change of plea hearing, Santy admitted to being the owner and operator of two illegal gambling businesses, one in Boise, and the other in Nampa. Santy admitted that the poker games had been or remained in substantially continuous operation for over six years; the games involved five or more persons who conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed, or owned all or part of the illegal gambling businesses; had gross revenue of more than $2,000 or more on any single day; and were operated in violation of Idaho state law. As part of his agreement, Santy will forfeit $16,262.87 in seized U.S. currency and an additional $100,000 in U.S. currency, proceeds of his illegal gambling business.

Santy faces up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for April 21, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.

This case was investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force. The task force is composed of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Idaho Department of Correction. The Metro Task Fork was assisted by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.