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Plea change sought in Mickelson gambling case
A California man who last year pleaded guilty to transferring nearly $3 million to "an illegal gambling operation which accepted and placed bets on sporting events" filed a court motion on Tuesday requesting to withdraw his guilty plea. Gregory Silveira of La Quinta pleaded guilty in June to three counts laundering funds from an unnamed "gambling client" of his between February 2010 and February 2013. Outside the Lines, citing sources, last year identified Mickelsonas the client.
Federal officials have declined to offer details about the case. But on Tuesday, court filings by Silveira's new defense attorney state that Silveira pleaded guilty initially due to bad advice from his original attorney and that Silveira was, by transferring the money, attempting to perform a "personal favor to an individual who did not wish his wagering activity to become public."
The new attorney, James T. Duff, states in the court filing that the money was not "tainted" and that Silveira, a 57-year-old former sports gambling handicapper, simply paid a friend's "gambling debt with legally earned money."
Mickelson, through his personal attorney, has declined to comment on the case. The five-time major winner and one of the PGA Tour's wealthiest and most popular players has not been charged with a crime and is not under federal investigation.
The initial plea agreement signed by Silveira last year contained a reference to the "money laundering of funds from P.M." After Outside the Lines inquired about Mickelson's potential role in the case, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to have the original plea agreement stricken. The next day, it filed an amended version minus any reference to "P.M."
Silveira was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday in Los Angeles on the money laundering charges.
According to the original court documents, Silveira accepted a wire transfer of $2.75 million, which he knew was part of "illegal sports betting." The money, according to the documents, came from a "gambling client" and had been transferred into Silveira's Wells Fargo Bank account.
Documents filed Tuesday, however, state that Silveira's original attorney, James D. Henderson Sr., made an error in advising his client to accept a guilty plea. According to the filing, "Silveira's original counsel had told him that the money Silveira received from the gambler was 'tainted' and that Silveira's transfer of those funds constituted money laundering. This advice was incorrect." Henderson could not immediately be reached for comment.
The source of the money, according to documents filed Tuesday, was a gambler known to Silviera who did not want his identity publicized but wanted Silveira to use the transferred funds to pay off a betting debt. Silveira, who splits time between San Diego and La Quinta, is described in documents as a friend of a number of individuals who are also avid golfers.
A California man who last year pleaded guilty to transferring nearly $3 million to "an illegal gambling operation which accepted and placed bets on sporting events" filed a court motion on Tuesday requesting to withdraw his guilty plea. Gregory Silveira of La Quinta pleaded guilty in June to three counts laundering funds from an unnamed "gambling client" of his between February 2010 and February 2013. Outside the Lines, citing sources, last year identified Mickelsonas the client.
Federal officials have declined to offer details about the case. But on Tuesday, court filings by Silveira's new defense attorney state that Silveira pleaded guilty initially due to bad advice from his original attorney and that Silveira was, by transferring the money, attempting to perform a "personal favor to an individual who did not wish his wagering activity to become public."
The new attorney, James T. Duff, states in the court filing that the money was not "tainted" and that Silveira, a 57-year-old former sports gambling handicapper, simply paid a friend's "gambling debt with legally earned money."
Mickelson, through his personal attorney, has declined to comment on the case. The five-time major winner and one of the PGA Tour's wealthiest and most popular players has not been charged with a crime and is not under federal investigation.
The initial plea agreement signed by Silveira last year contained a reference to the "money laundering of funds from P.M." After Outside the Lines inquired about Mickelson's potential role in the case, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to have the original plea agreement stricken. The next day, it filed an amended version minus any reference to "P.M."
Silveira was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday in Los Angeles on the money laundering charges.
According to the original court documents, Silveira accepted a wire transfer of $2.75 million, which he knew was part of "illegal sports betting." The money, according to the documents, came from a "gambling client" and had been transferred into Silveira's Wells Fargo Bank account.
Documents filed Tuesday, however, state that Silveira's original attorney, James D. Henderson Sr., made an error in advising his client to accept a guilty plea. According to the filing, "Silveira's original counsel had told him that the money Silveira received from the gambler was 'tainted' and that Silveira's transfer of those funds constituted money laundering. This advice was incorrect." Henderson could not immediately be reached for comment.
The source of the money, according to documents filed Tuesday, was a gambler known to Silviera who did not want his identity publicized but wanted Silveira to use the transferred funds to pay off a betting debt. Silveira, who splits time between San Diego and La Quinta, is described in documents as a friend of a number of individuals who are also avid golfers.
