Alleged Bookie in Rose Case Off to Prison

Ronald Peters, identified by federal authorities as a bookmaker who handled bets for Cincinnati Reds Manager Pete Rose, headed for federal prison today to begin serving a two-year sentence on drug and tax charges.

Peters said his family was taking him today to the federal prison camp in Terre Haute, Ind. He said that he was told he could trim three months a year off his sentence for good behavior and that he hopes to qualify for transfer to a halfway house after a year behind bars.

Peters, 32, former owner of a restaurant and tanning salon in this southwestern Ohio town, pleaded guilty to federal charges of cocaine distribution and making false statements on his 1985 income tax return. Federal authorities said Peters failed to report an estimated $80,000 in income from bookmaking.

Peters said his time in prison will amount to a vacation away from pursuit by news reporters covering the Rose investigation. Major league baseball officials have alleged that Rose may have bet on baseball games, and a federal grand jury in Cincinnati is investigating Rose’s finances to see whether he reported all taxable income. Rose denies any wrongdoing.