THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605030492
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Telephone records confiscated by an ABC agent showed dozens of calls to sports betting parlors with names like Sports Action and Rich's Super Book.
Some of the parlors were located out of the country - two were in the Dominican Republic, two in the United Kingdom.
Not unusual for a bookmaker in Las Vegas. But clearly out of the ordinary for a student at the College of William and Mary.
Authorities said Thursday they believe that a resident of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house at William and Mary has been running an illegal sports betting parlor from his room.
In addition, investigators are looking into allegations that threats of physical violence were made against students who placed bets, but were delinquent in paying off their gambling debts.
According to a search warrant and affidavit filed May 1 with the James City County/Williamsburg clerk of court, there were also allegations that illegal drugs were being sold from the room.
A search of the room was conducted Sunday. According to the search warrant, no drugs were found, but numerous notebooks, computer disks and ledgers were confiscated. Also confiscated was a Packard-Bell computer, a checkbook and about $340 in cash.
John L. Hughes, the ABC agent who conducted the search, would not comment Thursday on how many people are suspected of placing bets with the student. He said no charged had been filed, and the investigation is continuing.
According to the affidavit, someone said the student threatened his life. The accusation was made March 29 in a telephone call to the William and Mary campus police.
The affidavit said 11 toll-free numbers were frequently dialed from a number assigned to the student by the college. Four of the numbers belonged to betting parlors, the document said.
Records of the student's telephone calls for April 1-5 and April 13-15 indicated that the toll-free numbers were called up to 53 times a day.
Samuel Sadler, vice president of student affairs at William and Mary, said no disciplinary action against the student has been taken.
``We are waiting to see what the investigation produces,'' Sadler said.
Sadler said there is no indication that any other fraternity members are being investigated.
KEYWORDS: GAMBLING BETTING RING COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND
MARY by CNB