Virginia sports betting bust

An undercover operation involving Virginia Beach police and Internal Revenue Service agents has resulted in an Ocean View resident William M. Moison (64) charged with running an illegal gambling business.

Moison pleaded guilty to the charge in Federal court this week admitting that the online sports gambling operation brought him profits of $350 000, according to a report in the Virginia Pilot.

The operation came to light after authorities were alerted by an informant leading to an undercover operation that saw detectives placing bets with Moison.

Moison allegedly began taking sports bets in 2008, setting up customer accounts and playing through Betez.com and Lucky Sides.net. He placed 883 bets between September 2009 and April 2010. More than $100 000 cash was seized from his home during a police raid.

A sentence of five years in prison may be handed down when Moison stands for sentencing on February 15, 2012.