MONROE - Judge James Beer heard testimony in Green County Circuit Court Wednesday morning, May 9, that a local tavern owner took bets in a local gambling ring and used his business as the exchange location for money won or owed.
Jeffrey "Twitty" Conway, 52, Monroe, faces eight Class I felony gambling charges stemming from a long-term state investigation into commercial gambling in Monroe. He surrendered himself to police after the charges were filed against him in early April.
A codefendant, Werner J. Rast, 50, Monroe, was arrested in December. He pleaded not guilty to 10 similar gambling charges in February and has a jury trial tentatively scheduled for August.
The investigation into the case began Nov. 11, 2007, when police responded to a report of domestic abuse at Rast's Monroe home and, later, with a search warrant, seized evidence from the home, including ledgers, a computer, spreadsheets and financial documents.
The investigation eventually linked Rast and Conway as ringleaders in a gambling operation, which allegedly involved taking thousands of dollars in wagers on college basketball and pro football games from dozens of area people, often under nicknames like "Yogi" or "Thunder," at a fee of 10 percent on all lost bets.
More than a dozen local men admitted to placing bets with the gambling ring in 2005, 2006 or 2007, according to criminal complaints against Conway and Rast. The documents present evidence of commercial gambling in Monroe dating back to at least 2000.
Two part-time bartenders at Conway's tavern, Old Smokey's Bar, 1301 17th St., testified at the preliminary hearing Wednesday they knew about Conway's involvement in gambling.
Jamie Stingley, Monroe, said Conway told him to hand out parlay cards to anyone in the bar who asked - as long as Stingley knew them. The cards were OK to give out, he said, but "just for people I was acquainted with."
Stingley testified he also took betting money from patrons at the bar on behalf of Conway and put it in a drawer. Where these envelopes of money went after that, he said, he had "no idea."
Under the nickname "Stinger," Stingley said he placed bets with Rast and Conway, about $20 in an average week, using a special gambling phone line. A weekly average of $20 is much lower than the amounts others in the investigation report betting with Rast and Conway.
Another bartender, Kevin Riese, also of Monroe, confirmed he knew about the envelopes of betting money that were dropped off and picked up at Old Smokey's. He said he was instructed, in the case of a dispute over bets, to refer questions to Rast and Conway.
Riese denied placing formal bets with Rast and Conway but said he occasionally betted informally with Conway.
Defense counsel Stephen Hurley, a high-profile Madison lawyer, raised objections often during the hearing, particularly during the testimony of Monroe Police detective Jerry Dahlen. Hurley closely questioned Dahlen's training in financial investigation and peppered Dahlen for specifics on how he came to certain conclusions and interpretations.
Conway's arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, May 21.
Jeffrey "Twitty" Conway, 52, Monroe, faces eight Class I felony gambling charges stemming from a long-term state investigation into commercial gambling in Monroe. He surrendered himself to police after the charges were filed against him in early April.
A codefendant, Werner J. Rast, 50, Monroe, was arrested in December. He pleaded not guilty to 10 similar gambling charges in February and has a jury trial tentatively scheduled for August.
The investigation into the case began Nov. 11, 2007, when police responded to a report of domestic abuse at Rast's Monroe home and, later, with a search warrant, seized evidence from the home, including ledgers, a computer, spreadsheets and financial documents.
The investigation eventually linked Rast and Conway as ringleaders in a gambling operation, which allegedly involved taking thousands of dollars in wagers on college basketball and pro football games from dozens of area people, often under nicknames like "Yogi" or "Thunder," at a fee of 10 percent on all lost bets.
More than a dozen local men admitted to placing bets with the gambling ring in 2005, 2006 or 2007, according to criminal complaints against Conway and Rast. The documents present evidence of commercial gambling in Monroe dating back to at least 2000.
Two part-time bartenders at Conway's tavern, Old Smokey's Bar, 1301 17th St., testified at the preliminary hearing Wednesday they knew about Conway's involvement in gambling.
Jamie Stingley, Monroe, said Conway told him to hand out parlay cards to anyone in the bar who asked - as long as Stingley knew them. The cards were OK to give out, he said, but "just for people I was acquainted with."
Stingley testified he also took betting money from patrons at the bar on behalf of Conway and put it in a drawer. Where these envelopes of money went after that, he said, he had "no idea."
Under the nickname "Stinger," Stingley said he placed bets with Rast and Conway, about $20 in an average week, using a special gambling phone line. A weekly average of $20 is much lower than the amounts others in the investigation report betting with Rast and Conway.
Another bartender, Kevin Riese, also of Monroe, confirmed he knew about the envelopes of betting money that were dropped off and picked up at Old Smokey's. He said he was instructed, in the case of a dispute over bets, to refer questions to Rast and Conway.
Riese denied placing formal bets with Rast and Conway but said he occasionally betted informally with Conway.
Defense counsel Stephen Hurley, a high-profile Madison lawyer, raised objections often during the hearing, particularly during the testimony of Monroe Police detective Jerry Dahlen. Hurley closely questioned Dahlen's training in financial investigation and peppered Dahlen for specifics on how he came to certain conclusions and interpretations.
Conway's arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, May 21.