Saturday, September 23, 2006

The accused ring leader of the state's largest suspected illegal gambling
ring faced a judge and official charges Friday. The Madison County
Prosecutor filed 71 counts against former Teamster's boss John Neal,
accusing him of illegal gambling, money laundering and corruption. For 72
hours, the man prosecutors claim controlled illegal operations at dozens of
central Indiana taverns sat behind jail bars uncharged. Now, after days of
seizing dozens of video gambling machines, receipts, files - and more than
$4 million dollars, John Lewis Neal learned the 71 gambling related charges
against him. John Neal sat in front of a court video camera in the jail for
his mid-morning hearing, initially confused about what had taken place. "Did
you say that charges have not been filed?" he asked the magistrate, before
getting another court explanation. The court set Neal's bond at $2 million
dollars - the same amount investigators froze in bank accounts. "We believe
Mr. Neal is a flight risk. He has bank accounts that we're not aware of,
probably yet. We still believe that there's about $3 million from this
enterprise that are unaccounted for and have not been seized. He has a home
in Florida," explained Cummings. On federal parole until next February on a
prior gambling related conviction, money isn't the only thing keeping Neal
behind bars. The magistrate asked Mr. Neal if he understood that he could
not be released from jail until that parole hold is lifted. Neal responded,
"I understand that."

Before the court began rolling videotape of the hearing, Neal informed the
court he hired Indianapolis defense attorney Richard Kamman. But Neal
admitted he wasn't sure he had money to pay for representation, saying, "I
don't think so, they got all my money tied up. They got everything I got
tied up. What we're going to try to do is get that money loose to pay the
attorney."

The Madison County Prosecutor says Neal is in for a fight. "We will resist
any effort to get any of his money back," said Cummings. "It is not our plan
to make a deal with him like has been made in the past. It is our plan to
take his money and have that money to come to the government of this
community."

The prosecutor confirms some of those who worked under Neal apart from the
gambling are cooperating. Cummings says the next step is to reopen some of
the bars raided and shut down. Under the plan the county would appoint a
receiver and all profits would go to the coffers of Madison County. Cummings
believes it will keep viable businesses open and employees earning a living
legally.