Acting as a bookie for the Beteagle online betting site earns a Wall Township defendant 21 months in prison.

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Michael O'Donnell, 51, was sentenced in a Newark federal courtroom for his guilty plea for conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, according to information from the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

O'Donnell admitted his role as an agent for the Costa Rica-based site principally owned by Joseph Graziano, 78, of Springfield, NJ.

In the Beteagle arrangement, bookmakers were recast as agents, who took responsibility for groups of bettors through sub-agents.

Bettors were given user names and passwords, but no finances were transacted on line. O'Donnell and others paid and collected money in person. Part of the part of the proceeds were then sent to Dominick Barone, 45, of Springfield, an associate of Graziano's, authorities said.

O'Donnell was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay a $5,000 fine. Graziano has a June 25 sentencing date for his guilty plea. Barone is already serving 18 months.

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