Probation ordered for Ripon man who ran sports gambling operation

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Probation ordered for Ripon man who ran sports gambling operation
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By Amie Jo Schaenzer
The Reporter ajschaenzer@fdlreporter.com

A Ripon business owner who told a judge he didn't make any money off a sports gambling operation he ran has been placed on probation for one year and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.


During a plea and sentencing hearing Friday for Dan D. Mullowney, 46, three felony gambling charges were amended to misdemeanor gambling offenses.


Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Peter Grimm found Mullowney guilty of the charges after Mullowney entered a no contest plea.


An investigation into a separate matter led the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, to what its investigators were told was a "huge gambling operation" led by Mullowney, said Mullowney's attorney, Jon Wilsnack.


The charges came after a two-year investigation headed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, according to the criminal complaint.


Throughout the investigation, a confidential informant placed bets on professional sporting events through Mullowney, who said he used an online commercial gambling service, BetRoyal, to post the bets, according to the complaint.
Mullowney charged a 10 percent commission for every bet lost, according to the complaint.


Wilsnack argued during the hearing Friday that gambling is a commonplace fixture in society.


"You can probably drive two blocks from this courthouse and sit in a tavern at a gambling machine and probably see a payout," he said.


Mullowney said his friends would call to make bets on various sporting events and the betting was "just something to watch the game and do."


Mullowney owns Dan's Audio and Video in Ripon, the complaint said.