Pennsylvanian Bar Could Pay A Heavy Price On Internet Gambling Charges

Federal officials file forfeiture application against Patte’s Sports Bar

Friday was not a good day for the owner of Patte’s Sports Bar in Wilkes-Barre, West Pennsylvania. Officials from the US Attorneys Office filed a forfeiture application on the premises, detailing allegations of online gambling activities made against owner Pat Patte Jnr and two employees.

Federal officials claim that between June 2009 and Feb. 11, 2010, they were engaged in a sting operation targeting the suspects, and placed controlled bets through an unspecified Internet gambling site with which the bar was associated, reports the local Times Leader.com newspaper.

Patte's Sports Bar "…was used to conduct transactions involving illegal gambling activities, and/or is an asset derived from, traceable to, and constituting proceeds obtained directly and indirectly from these offenses," according to the filing.

Patte has been charged with one count of conspiring to use wire communications to transmit gambling information, whilst two other people, including a bar employee, face conspiracy charges.