Chicago’s First Campus Gambling Summit
by Wayne A. Johnson
Chief Investigator
In
the Fall of 1997 the United States Attorney from the District of Arizona
conducted a Grand Jury Investigation into allegations of Point Shaving at one
of the premier basketball schools in the nation. It was during that time that a
savvy investigator working for Sports Illustrated contacted the Office of the Chief Investigator of the
Chicago Crime Commission following an instinct of Chicago Organized Crime
involvement in the Arizona State case. Since then, prestigious Northwestern
University suffered a similar embarrassment within their less than stellar
Basketball Program.
The
results of these investigations have sent shock waves through the NCAA and
Division I programs across the country. So, in the Spring of 1998 when DePaul
University, Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw contacted the Chicago Crime
Commission, through Chicago Police Officer, Jim Marino (a former DePaul
basketball star), it was clear that an opportunity had presented itself for
DePaul to take the lead amongst Division I schools in the Midwest in addressing
a problem that for years was ignored, and that is exactly what they did.
After
several months of planning, on September 30, 1998, at the James R.
Thompson-State of Illinois Center, DePaul University, the Chicago Crime
Commission, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office (through yet another
DePaul star, Assistant Attorney General Joe Ponsetto), put forth what has been
described as the greatest panel of experts on Campus Gambling to share a stage
together.
This
one day event brought out the Attorney General of Illinois, Jim Ryan and
Chicago Crime Commission, President Thomas B. Kirkpatrick, to welcome an
audience of Division I Athletic Administrators, Coaches, Compliance Officers,
Trainers, Security and other staff close to the issues, along with many Law
Enforcement Personnel who are burdened with a responsibility to police and
prosecute these cases in an urban setting.
The
Master of Ceremony, Bill Bradshaw did a wonderful job of facilitating the event
which included an official position on the topic from Bill Saum, Agent &
Gambling Representative, NCAA. Federal Investigators Randy Sealby (FBI) and Tom
Moriarity (IRS) recounted their experiences in pursuing these types of
investigations. This fit well with accounts from convicted student athletes
from Northwestern University as they talked about their experiences and how it
has changed their lives.
One
of the most interesting sessions of the day was the appearance of Joe Lodge,
Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona (Arizona State case
prosecutor) along with Assistant United States Attorneys Pat Collins & Mark
Vogel (Northwestern University case prosecutors) in a panel discussion about
their respective cases, fielding questions from the audience.
And
the day was highlighted by appearances from Tom Grey, Director, National
Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, Wayne A. Johnson, Chief Investigator of
the Chicago Crime Commission, Rick Telander, Chicago Sun-Times, ESPN Magazine,
Rick Taylor, Athletic Director, Northwestern University, who provided great
insights to this National Dilemma.
But
last and certainly not least was the appearance of former MOB Gambling
Supervisor William “BJ” Jahoda who has appeared on College Campuses across the
country speaking out on the evils of gambling. This was BJ’s first appearance
in the Chicago area since his MOB defection in 1993. Security was a concern, but
BJ delivered.
In
the near future the Chicago Crime Commission will field inquiries from
Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of
Illinois at Chicago about campus gambling issues and what can be done to stop
the spread of this epidemic!!!