02/05/2013 5:53PM

Michigan man pleads guilty to race-fixing at Tampa Bay, Delaware

By Matt Hegarty
Email

A Michigan businessman who was indicted in 2009 on gambling and fraud charges has pleaded guilty to fixing races at Tampa Bay Downs and Delaware Park among other crimes, according to the Associated Press.

Mitchell Karam, 79, admitted he bribed a Panamanian rider, Ricardo Valdes, to fix Tampa Bay races. Valdes, who was named in the 2009 indictment, was believed to have fled the country late in 2006, and it is unclear if authorities have located the rider.

Karam entered the plea in agreeing to provide testimony against his alleged partner in the activities, the Detroit businessman Ghazi Manni. Prosecutors also claimed on Tuesday that Karam and Manni had bet approximately $331,000 on basketball games at the University of Toledo from 2004 to 2006 while paying players to perform poorly.

Manni is scheduled to go on trial on March 12, along with three former Toledo basketball players. Valdes is also scheduled to go on trial that day, provided he has been found.

In absentia, Valdes was charged with 19 counts of conspiracy and fraud in the 2009 indictment. He was one of seven jockeys barred from Tampa Bay late in 2006 based on an investigation conducted by the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, an arm of a racetrack trade group, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, that polices the sport internally. He fled shortly after being barred, according to officials.

The indictment stated that Karam and Manni held discussions with Valdes and "other persons known or unknown to the grand jury" about races at Tampa Bay Downs. Prosecutors never identified any other conspirators.

 

Scott Johnson 9 months ago
Here's another fraud everyone should be aware of - the Amway Tool Scam. Google "Stop The Amway Tool Scam Wordpress" for more information, and forward this information to every non-Distributor/IBO you know, so they don't get ripped off.
Bruce Baudoux 9 months ago
Conveniently no mention of the innocent riders that were escorted from the property and then banned from riding there with no legitimate proof they did anything other than ride in some of the races in question. Terry Houghton is an honest man and wouldn't hold a horse for his mother let alone a fist full of dollars. I guess their crime was that they rode in Ohio where the trouble originated. Although it appears that Tampa management was just playing ball with the TRPB during their investigation, they could have rescinded the innocent riders bans and invited them to return at their convenience. Once again, proof positive that these leaky roof joints like Tampa continue to write their own rules. Good thing they had inspector Clouseau there to figure out who the real crooks were!
Josh Eckels 9 months ago
I totally agree terry Houghton is a class guy wish there was more people like him!
Matt Zebriski 9 months ago
Why is it that businessmen and jockeys are charged with crimes for fixing races, but when trainers fix races through the use of PEDs, nothing happens.
SINNtilator 9 months ago
Just b/c a trainer gives his horse PED's or any other banned substance there is no guarantee the horse is gonna win or even do well, I think that's the difference.