Thursday, December 07, 2006

A judge appointed a special prosecutor to handle the case against a former
state Teamsters union president charged with operating a multi-county video
gambling ring at nearly two dozen bars. Henry County Prosecutor Kit Crane
will oversee the charges against John L. Neal and 38 other people charged in
the operation. Madison Superior Court Judge Thomas Newman Jr. appointed
Crane on Monday because Thomas Broderick, who takes office as Madison County
prosecutor Jan. 1, has been Neal's attorney in an unrelated matter. Neal,
69, of Yorktown, was arrested Sept. 18 on felony charges of professional
gambling, promoting professional gambling, money laundering and corrupt
business influence. He was originally held on $2 million bond, but he was
released after his bond was reduced to $75,000. The arrest came about 1 1/2
years after Neal's release from federal prison. He pleaded guilty in 2000 to
charges of illegal gambling, money laundering and tax evasion. Neal is
expected to appear in U.S. District Court on Jan. 26 to face charges he
violated his federal probation. A message seeking comment was left Monday
evening at the office of Neal's defense attorney, Richard Kammen.
Authorities shut down 23 taverns in Madison, Delaware and Henry counties
during the raids connected with Neal's arrest. Some have since been allowed
to reopen.