GOODLETTSVILLE FATHER AND SON PLEAD GUILTY IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATING AN ILLEGAL NASHVILLE-BASED GAMBLING BUSINESS

Nashville, Tennessee – April 4, 2008 - Two residents of Goodlesttsville, Tennessee, a father and his son, each pled guilty this week in connection with their operation of an illegal gambling business from March 2006 until February 2007, announced Edward M. Yarbrough, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christopher Pikeless, SAC of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and Mark Gwyn, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Michael P. Williamson, a/k/a “Big Mike,” 54, and his son, Michael W. Williamson, a/k/a “Little Mike,” 35, each pled guilty before United States District Judge William J. Haynes, Jr., to one count of an indictment filed last September. Specifically, on March 31, 2008, Big Mike pled guilty to conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and on April 4, 2008, Little Mike pled guilty to conducting an illegal gambling business, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1955.

According to facts alleged in the indictment and admitted by one or both defendants at their respective plea hearings, Big Mike and Little Mike conspired with each other and Thomas White, Robert Gordon and Timothy Moore to conduct an illegal gambling business as defined by statute, namely a sports-betting operation based out of an office on Dickerson Road in Nashville. The business originated in approximately early 2006 with an agreement between Big Mike and Thomas White, whereby White would accept 25 percent of the profits or losses, and Big Mike would accept 75 percent of the profits or losses. White then rented the office on Dickerson Road. Thereafter, White and others accepted sports bets at the gambling office by telephone.

As further admitted by Big Mike and Little Mike in connection with their respective guilty pleas, point spreads for various games were obtained via an Internet web site maintained by a Nevada-based company, and Big Mike and Little Mike paid out the gambling business’s losses and collected its winnings. Big Mike and Little Mike each admitted taking bets on behalf of the illegal gambling business, and admitted paying out particular pro football bets lost by the illegal gambling business during November 2006.

White, Gordon, and Moore already have pled guilty to conducting an illegal gambling business in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1955. All three await sentencing before Judge Haynes.

Judge Haynes scheduled Big Mike’s sentencing for June 30, 2008, and Little Mike’s sentencing for July 7, 2008.

Mr. Yarbrough stated, “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners take seriously allegations of illegal gambling activities conducted in violation of federal law. Gambling is not a victimless crime, and conduct like that alleged in this indictment must not be tolerated.”

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. The United States is being represented by First Assistant United States Attorney Paul O’Brien and Assistant United States Attorney Eli J. Richardson.