The Sun Herald, Sat, October 08, 2005
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/ ... 849493.htm
Checkers Hall founder faces jail
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HATTIESBURG - Charles Walker, founder of the International Checkers Hall of Fame in Petal, will be sentenced Oct. 27 on charges of laundering money from the sale and distribution of illegal drugs.
Walker pleaded guilty in June. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The sentencing date was rescheduled Thursday by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett. Sentencing was supposed to be done Sept. 29, but was delayed due to Hurricane Katrina.
Walker was arrested Jan. 7 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The arrest came as part of a probe into Walker's American Protective Life Insurance office in Petal.
According to an affidavit filed in January, Walker met with an undercover agent in Hattiesburg and agreed to create a paper trail that would show the agent worked as a consultant in one of the "paper companies" operated by Walker.
"For example, the (undercover) agent would give Walker cash represented to be illegally obtained drug smuggling proceeds and Walker would turn the money through his own accounts and pay the agent with the original money," according to the affidavit.
Walker, who founded the International Checkers Hall of Fame in 1979, has resigned his association with the museum and as president of the World Checker Draught Federation.
Checkers Hall founder Charles Walker faces jail
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Hanco Elenbaas
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Hanco Elenbaas
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- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2003 14:49
