Illegal Horse Racing Plea Deals Reached

MARIETTA, Okla. (AP) -- Eleven people charged in connection with an alleged illegal horse racing operation in Love County have reached a plea deal with prosecutors.<br/>The 11 are pleading guilty to misdemeanor

Thursday, November 15th 2007, 9:57 am

By: News On 6

MARIETTA, Okla. (AP) -- Eleven people charged in connection with an alleged illegal horse racing operation in Love County have reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
The 11 are pleading guilty to misdemeanor gambling charges in exchange for deferred sentences and their testimony against four people accused of operating the racing track near Thackerville.

Jesse Romero, Sonya Romero-Quezado, Martin Treja and Geraldo Ruiz face racketeering charges as the alleged operators of the Red River Playgrounds racing track.

Each could be sentenced to ten years to life in prison if convicted.

The track was raided in July by more than 200 law officers following a year-long undercover investigation by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and the state Bureau of Investigation.

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7/29/2007 Horse Track Raided

8/1/2007 Raid At Race Track Leads To Charges