Las Vegas man indicted in messenger betting investigation

Robert Walker quietly made his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court after being indicted on four felony charges tied to the ongoing investigation of messenger betting inside local sports books.

The case is likely to reverberate throughout the professional sports betting community, elite members of which have for years used messenger bettors to place large wagers at various sports books. Messenger betting is illegal under state law.

Dressed in a blue sports shirt and represented by attorney Mark Bailus, Walker pleaded not guilty to charges he caused a domestic financial institution, in this case a casino, to fail to file an accurate Currency Transaction Report. He made his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen.

Walker is charged with misleading Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino Race and Sports Book employees into falsely filing CTRs, which are required under federal law for transactions in excess of $10,000.

When asked if he was gambling on behalf of anyone, defendant Robert Walker declared that he was not gambling on behalf of anyone, when in truth and fact defendant Robert Walker knew he was gambling and engaging in the cash-in transaction on behalf of ACME Group Trading, LLC, according to the indictment. Walker is alleged to have made a cash-in transaction of $32,400.

ACME Group Trading was incorporated in 2005 by gambler/developer Bill Walters, who has not been charged in the case.

Walker, 43, also faces forfeiture allegations tied to the criminal charges.

Bailus had no comment afterward. The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the state Gaming Control Board. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina D.Silva.