NEW YORK, (Reuters) – An American operator of an Antigua-based online sport betting enterprise, who spent over 13 years as a fugitive from U.S. justice while continuing to run the business, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge yesterday in New York.
Haden Ware, who worked at World Sports Exchange even after its owner was convicted at trial in 2000 and after his own indictment in 2002, entered his plea in federal court in Manhattan.
It came a day after Ware voluntarily turned himself in to U.S. authorities after flying in from Antigua on Wednesday night. James Henderson, his lawyer, told reporters his client “came back to resolve this.”
“Who wants to be an international fugitive when you’re a U.S. citizen?” Henderson said.
Under a plea agreement, Ware, 40 agreed not to appeal any sentence of 12 months or less.