Billy Walters
| William T. Walters | |
|---|---|
| Born: | July 15, 1946 Munfordville, Kentucky |
| Charges: | Insider trading, Securities fraud |
| Sentence: | 5 years (commuted) |
| Facility: | |
| Status: | Commuted |
William T. "Billy" Walters (born July 15, 1946) is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and one of the most successful sports bettors in American history. From humble beginnings in rural Kentucky, Walters built a fortune through sports betting, poker, and business ventures including real estate and golf courses. In April 2017, he was convicted of insider trading for making more than $40 million based on tips from a Dean Foods board member. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined $10 million. President Donald Trump commuted Walters' remaining sentence on January 20, 2021, after he had served approximately four years.[1]
Summary
Billy Walters is a legendary figure in the gambling world, known for his sophisticated sports betting operations and an almost unparalleled winning record spanning three decades. His journey from poverty in Kentucky to wealth and prominence in Las Vegas made him one of the most respected—and feared—gamblers in the industry.
However, Walters' reputation was tarnished when federal prosecutors charged him with insider trading. The investigation revealed that Walters had received inside information about Dean Foods from a company board member and used it to make tens of millions in profitable trades. The case also implicated pro golfer Phil Mickelson, who received tips from Walters and made approximately $1 million, though Mickelson was not criminally charged.
Walters maintained that he was targeted unfairly and that FBI misconduct had tainted the investigation. A bipartisan group of Nevada leaders, including former Senator Harry Reid, supported his clemency request.
Background
Early Life
William T. Walters was born on July 15, 1946, in Munfordville, Kentucky. He grew up in poverty, living in a home without running water. His early life was marked by hardship, but he displayed an aptitude for gambling from a young age.
Rise to Prominence
Walters moved to Las Vegas and became involved in sports betting and poker. He developed sophisticated analytical methods for handicapping sporting events and built a betting operation that reportedly won consistently over more than 30 years—an almost unprecedented achievement in the gambling industry.[2]
Business Ventures
Beyond gambling, Walters built a business empire that included:
- Golf courses
- Real estate development
- Car dealerships
- Other investments
He became a prominent philanthropist, donating millions to charitable causes.
Insider Trading Case
The Scheme
Federal prosecutors alleged that Walters received inside information about Dean Foods from Thomas C. Davis, a member of the company's board of directors. Davis provided Walters with non-public information about the company's financial performance and business prospects over several years.
Using this information, Walters made more than $40 million in profitable stock trades, buying or selling Dean Foods stock ahead of major announcements.[1]
Phil Mickelson Connection
The investigation revealed that Walters had passed inside information to professional golfer Phil Mickelson. Mickelson owed gambling debts to Walters and reportedly used his Dean Foods trading profits—approximately $1 million—to repay those debts.
While Mickelson was not criminally charged, he agreed to pay back the money he had made on the trades. The SEC required Mickelson to disgorge his trading profits.[3]
FBI Misconduct
The investigation was marred by FBI misconduct. A supervisory special agent responsible for the case leaked grand jury information to a journalist. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged this misconduct but still upheld Walters' conviction in 2018, finding that the evidence of his guilt was overwhelming regardless of the leak.
Trial and Conviction
In April 2017, a federal jury in New York found Walters guilty of insider trading.
Sentencing
Walters was sentenced to:
- 5 years in federal prison
- $10 million fine
He also paid an additional $34 million in forfeitures and restitution, bringing his total financial penalty to approximately $44 million.
Clemency
Support for Clemency
A bipartisan group of Nevada leaders sent a letter to the White House requesting clemency for Walters. Supporters included:
- Former U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D)
- Former Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons (R)
- Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
- Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman
Walters also hired former Trump attorney John Dowd to help seek clemency.[1]
Commutation
On January 20, 2021—President Trump's last day in office—Trump commuted Walters' remaining prison sentence. Walters had served approximately four years of his five-year term.
The commutation noted that Walters had paid $44 million in fines, restitution, and forfeitures.[4]
Walters' Response
Walters stated: "I am thankful to the President and extremely grateful for the longstanding support of friends and family, especially my wife, Susan. I have tried to lead a life marked by concern for others and I hope those qualities, along with the government misconduct that led to my wrongful conviction, convinced the White House to grant me clemency. I also hope this sends a strong message to law enforcement to refrain from illegal misconduct in pursuing their targets."[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Billy Walters do?
Walters was convicted of insider trading for receiving non-public information from a Dean Foods board member. He made more than $40 million in trades based on this inside information. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined $10 million. Pro golfer Phil Mickelson was also implicated but not criminally charged.[1]
Q: Was Billy Walters pardoned?
Walters received a commutation, not a full pardon. On January 20, 2021, President Trump commuted his remaining sentence. He had served about four years of his five-year term. The commutation was supported by a bipartisan group including former Senator Harry Reid. Walters had paid $44 million in penalties.[4]
Q: How long was Billy Walters' prison sentence?
Walters was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison and fined $10 million in 2017. The appeals court upheld his conviction in 2018 despite acknowledging FBI misconduct. He served approximately four years before Trump commuted his remaining sentence in January 2021.[1]
Q: Who is Billy Walters?
Walters is considered one of the most successful sports bettors in American history, with a winning streak over 30 years. From humble beginnings in Kentucky, he became a renowned gambler, poker champion, and business executive with holdings in real estate, golf courses, and car dealerships.[2]
Q: Was Phil Mickelson involved in Billy Walters' case?
Yes. Prosecutors found Walters passed inside information to Mickelson, who made approximately $1 million in Dean Foods trades. Mickelson owed gambling debts to Walters and used his profits to repay them. Mickelson agreed to pay back the money and was not criminally charged.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Trump commutes sentence of Las Vegas gambler Bill Walters," January 2021, https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/trump-commutes-sentence-of-las-vegas-gambler-bill-walters-2259498/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 KTNV, "Former Las Vegas pro-gambler Billy Walters given pardon by Trump," January 2021, https://www.ktnv.com/news/former-las-vegas-pro-gambler-william-walters-given-pardon-by-trump
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Casino.org, "Billy Walters 'Extremely Grateful' for Trump Clemency, Still Pursuing Civil Case," January 2021, https://www.casino.org/news/walters-extremely-grateful-for-trump-clemency-still-pursuing-civil-case/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 PR Newswire, "Billy Walters receives clemency in case marred by FBI misconduct," January 2021, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/billy-walters-receives-clemency-in-case-marred-by-fbi-misconduct-301211854.html