A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted two men on suspicion of running an illegal sports-betting operation in the metro area.
Daniel Dinner, 59, and Michael R. Elick, 38, have been charged with racketeering, violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act and other numerous charges related to the alleged operation, according to the Jefferson County district attorney’s office.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation began looking at the pair in 2009 and a 29-count indictment was returned on June 24, according to the DA’s office.
Prosecutors said Dinner and Elick solicited and took bets on sporting events, recorded the bets, and paid or collected on wagers.
According to the indictment, Dinner has been a professional bookmaker since the mid-1980s.
“Over the last 30 years, hundreds of people transacted thousands of dollars in bets with Dinner,” the release said.
On March 29, investigators executed search warrants at Dinner’s two Denver homes, 1401 E. Virginia Ave. and 8082 W. Chenango Place; on two safe deposit boxes registered in Dinner’s name; and on his car.
Investigators seized $1.2 million in cash.
Elick was in the process of buying the alleged illegal operation from Dinner for $100,000, and he had taken primary control of the enterprise, prosecutors said.
Both suspects were arrested and have posted bond.
Their next scheduled court hearing is Aug. 15.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
