Two more people have pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count for their roles in the large-scale John L. Neal illegal gambling investigation.
Kyle E. Barber, 51, and Lola A. Whitehead, 62, both pleaded guilty Monday to one count of aiding in the commission of unlawful gambling, a Class B misdemeanor.
They were both given six-month suspended sentences and placed on formal probation for a year. All other charges were dropped.
Barber was originally charged with one count of corrupt business influence, a Class C felony; and two counts promoting professional gambling, three counts of professional gambling and two counts of money laundering, all Class D felonies.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the charges against Barber:
He told an undercover police officer in September 2006 he was buying Monty’s, 28 W. Main St., Chesterfield, from Linda White. Barber was also serving as the tavern’s manager. Tax records show the property belonged to Neal, however.
Twice during 2006, an undercover officer played a video gambling machine inside the bar. On both occasions, Barber cashed the officer out when the officer said they were done playing.
Whitehead was originally charged with one count of corrupt business influence, two counts promoting professional gambling, five counts of professional gambling and one count of money laundering.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the charges against her:
Whitehead was the operator and on-paper owner of the Getaway, 2332 Columbus Ave., Anderson, but the bar was really owned by Neal. Several times during the spring and summer of 2006, undercover officers played video gambling machines in the tavern and a bar employee cashed them out when they finished playing.
The cases against eight other defendants, including Neal, have not been resolved. Prosecutors allege that Neal was at the center of the purported organized gambling ring.
Neal, 70, of Yorktown, remains in minimum security at the Ashland, Ky., Federal Correctional Institution, according to information from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The former Teamsters union leader is expected to be released in November.
Henry County Prosecutor Kit Crane, who is special prosecutor in the case, has previously said the criminal case against Neal, who faces more than 70 felony charges, won’t move forward until he’s released from federal custody.
Monday’s guilty plea doesn’t end Barber’s legal woes, however. In December 2004, prosecutors charged him with 17 felonies, including multiple counts of voter fraud, aiding in voter fraud and attempted obstruction of justice, all involving absentee ballots during the 2003 Anderson municipal election.
Barber allegedly directed several people to vote in a precinct where they didn’t live, told others how to vote and delivered and picked up absentee ballots. He also allegedly instructed some people to lie to investigators.
In November, his attorney filed a motion asking the charges to be dropped because prosecutors have taken so long to bring the case to trial. There’s not yet been a ruling on the motion.
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10:50 p.m.: 2 more gambling cases resolved
Barber, Whitehead plead guilty to misdemeanor
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