Betting Ring Is Focus of Inquiry

Phoenix Coyote assistant coach Rick Tocchet was issued a summons to appear in court for his alleged involvement in a New Jersey-based sports gambling ring that took bets from about a dozen NHL players, among others, authorities said Tuesday.

Lt. Gerald Lewis, a spokesman for the New Jersey state police, said the investigation, which began in October, has already resulted in two arrests, including that of New Jersey Trooper James J. Harney.

Police said Tocchet and Harney were partners in a nationwide gambling ring that involved more than $1.7 million in bets on professional and collegiate sports, mostly football and baseball.

According to the investigation, about a dozen NHL players placed wagers -- though none on hockey. The Kings’ Jeremy Roenick is believed to be one of those, a league source said. Roenick and Tocchet were teammates for a few seasons with the Coyotes.

Roenick, through a team spokesman, declined to comment Tuesday morning.

Another who allegedly placed bets is Janet Jones, wife of Phoenix Coach Wayne Gretzky, the Associated Press reported, citing anonymous sources.

Police began investigating after being tipped that Harney was running a sports wagering ring from his home in Marlton, N.J., and while on duty.

Authorities believe the gambling ring has a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, reportedly centering on the Scarfo crime family.

Tocchet, 41 and a former All-Star, was served with a criminal complaint Monday.

Late Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman asked that Tocchet not attend the Coyotes’ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks as had been planned. In a statement, the Coyotes said Tocchet “was flying back East this evening to address the allegations in a meeting with Bettman.”

Tocchet is also expected to travel to New Jersey to answer contentions of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, according to police.

Earlier Tuesday, Tocchet spoke to reporters after the Coyotes’ practice in Glendale, Ariz. “It’s not a hockey-related issue, it’s a football thing,” he said. “And at this time I can’t comment any further.”

Tocchet scored 440 goals in an 18-season NHL career. He played for six teams, including the Coyotes, Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins, when they won the Stanley Cup in 1992.

Gretzky, who is also part owner of the Coyotes, spoke to reporters after practice about Tocchet.

“Everyone in the world is innocent until proven guilty,” Gretzky said. “He’s a great guy and a good friend. He’s just going through a tough time right now, obviously, and we’ve got to let it run its course. It’s a situation that’s obviously a concern for the organization at this point.”

Jones’ alleged involvement was not public knowledge at the time of those comments.

When asked after the game about his wife, Gretzky said she was in California. The two talked, he said, but she did not speak about her involvement.

“We didn’t get into it other than she was concerned about Rick and she felt it was a tough situation with him,” Gretzky said, “and she would sit down at some point and answer questions that everybody has for her and be her own person.”

Gretzky said “absolutely not” when asked whether she had placed bets for him.

The police said many of the ring’s clientele included past and present professional athletes and celebrities who are being interviewed as part of the continuing investigation.

According to Lewis, more arrests could follow.

“We initially began investigating our trooper in October and that subsequently encompassed Mr. Tocchet and other people,” he said. “At this point, the investigation is ongoing. We’re not sure the exact number of people who are involved.”

In a statement, Phoenix President Doug Moss said: “The Phoenix Coyotes organization declines further comment on the situation until definitive information becomes available.”

The news is a black eye for the NHL, which has been wooing back fans after a lockout erased the 2004-05 season.

“We have just become aware of the allegations against Mr. Tocchet and the possible involvement of some unnamed players,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement.

“While we know little more than has been released publicly, we understand that Mr. Tocchet’s conduct in no way involved betting on hockey. And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct.”

Gambling issues have been a concern of the league in the past. In 2004, it was learned that Roenick -- then with the Philadelphia Flyers -- paid more than $100,000 to a Florida company that made millions selling betting tips to gamblers. Roenick was not investigated in the matter, however, and police said there was no evidence that he bet on hockey.

The NHL addresses gambling issues annually during orientation sessions by the league’s security representatives assigned to each team.

“With respect to the alleged conduct of the unnamed players, it is difficult to have any comment at this point, although everything we have heard, again, indicates it is not hockey-related,” Daly said. “We take this issue very seriously and will monitor the proceedings.”

Investigators in New Jersey said that Tocchet would receive bets and send the money back to New Jersey.

Harney, 40, has been suspended from the force and was accused in the arrest warrant of official misconduct, promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, Lewis said.

James A. Ulmer, 40, of Swedesboro, N.J., was also arrested and charged with promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy. Harney and Ulmer were free on bail and would be arraigned in state Superior Court in Burlington County within two weeks, Lewis said.

On Monday night, state police seized $27,000 along with large amounts of sports betting information and bank accounts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A search of Harney’s house recovered more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches and nine plasma-screen televisions, including two from his bathroom.

Times staff writer Eric Stephens and the Associated Press contributed to this report.