Sportscaster's home searched

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CLEVELAND (AP) -- The home of a longtime local sports talk show host was searched by federal authorities investigating a suspected gambling operation, court documents said.

Federal agents seized a revolver, more than $1,000 in cash, a computer and other items in a search of Bruce Drennan's home on Sunday, the documents show.

Drennan, a morning host on WKNR-AM radio who has been on the air in Cleveland for more than 20 years, was not arrested or charged with a crime.

The phone at Drennan's home was busy Monday night and Tuesday morning and his attorney, Mike Polito, said Drennan would not comment until the case is resolved.

Errol Dengler, regional general manager of Salem Communications Inc., which owns WKNR, said he could not comment on the investigation. He said Drennan voluntarily took the day off Tuesday.

"We are still in discussions as to what the next steps are," he said. "I'm sure he's shaken up with the situation."

Searches of a dozen homes and offices in the investigation yielded hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and bags of sports betting receipts, court documents said.

A judge signed a temporary restraining order blocking Drennan and four other suspects from selling their homes, which could be seized by the government if the men are convicted of gambling crimes.

Drennan was a commentator on Cleveland Indians television broadcasts from 1980-82 and is a member of the Ohio Radio/Television Hall of Fame.

 

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Betting probe has lasted months
Friendship between Drennan, gambler part of investigation
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
John Caniglia
Plain Dealer Reporter

In the mornings, Bruce Drennan debated the Las Vegas betting line on his sports-talk show.

When his shift ended, his friends say, he did more than just blab about the line. He used it.


Drennan with his signature salute, "IIIIII love ya, Cleveland" has been in the crosshairs of the feds for months, over suspected bookmaking, according to interviews and court documents.

Authorities who seized cash and records from Drennan's Strongsville home Sunday are investigating his relationship to David Hammon Sr., a convicted gambler who is among Cleveland's biggest sports bookmakers, according to interviews, court records and published reports. Calls Tuesday to Hammon's attorney, Mark Stanton, were not returned.

Drennan did not appear Tuesday on his WKNR talk show, which airs 9 a.m. to noon weekdays. He was replaced by sports director Greg Brinda. The station would not discuss Drennan's future.

"We're working on determining all the facts," said Michael Luczak, the station's program director. "We will take our own internal look at this before reaching any conclusions."

A veteran of Cleveland broadcasting for 26 years, Drennan has been a WKNR personality since 2001. His attorney, Mark Polito, could not be reached Tuesday.

On his afternoon show, rival talker Mike Trivisonno of WTAM said simply: "Bruce will land on his feet."

A source with direct knowledge of the inquiry said federal agents built their case with wiretaps. Authorities are studying boxloads of evidence taken in the raids and links Drennan might have to other suspected gamblers. Officers seized about $400,000 in the raids.

FBI agents found a little more than a pound of cocaine and $26,080 during searches of Hammon's home and his daughter's, according to court records. FBI agent Christine Oliver said in an affidavit the drugs belonged to Hammon.

In 1990, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for operating an illegal gambling business that grossed tens of millions of dollars a year, the IRS said.

The IRS and FBI are looking into tax, money-laundering and gambling charges against Drennan, Hammon and at least three other bookmaking suspects, according to court records.

A friend of the talk-show host said Drennan and Hammon know each other. They suspect Drennan took off in the sports-betting business when he ran Drennan's, a bar on Pearl Road in Strongsville. He had the bar from 1986 to 1995, according to a license with the Ohio Department of Liquor Control.

"A lot of people knew what he did," said the longtime friend, who did not want to be identified.

Investigators suspect Drennan did more than place a few bets. They are looking into the possibility that he regularly accepted wagers - that is, ran an illegal book.

William Riedthaler, a retired Cleveland police detective who has traced illegal gambling for decades, said the growth nationally in sports betting has soared in recent years.

"It's absolutely huge," Riedthaler said. "And this is the time of year that it gets bigger. It will stay this way until Thanksgiving, and then it will taper off. Unless the Browns make the playoffs."

Federal agents searched a dozen properties Sunday, an hour before the National Football League's 1 p.m. games kicked off. Prosecutors immediately placed restraining orders on the homes of Drennan and Hammon, as well as Anthony Serio of Fairview Park, Bernard Poyma of Cleveland and Richard Gurda of Westlake. The orders prevent the owners from selling their homes.

The raids mirror a search of Hammon's home in 1988, when agents stormed through his door moments before the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers squared off. In that case, Hammon forfeited $144,000 in jewelry and $120,000 in cash, as well as property. Authorities said he was the organizer of the ring.

 

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Interesting part of the article states the search was by 'federal agents'. That's not real common for a small fish like Drennan. If crossing state lines with 'bets' called in isn't commonly being practiced, it's usually a state run bust unless there are some extenuating circumstances we're not aware of.

If the proposed internet gaming laws are eventually passed later this year, I'm really thinking the Justice department is going to get real involved in trying to steal players assets. Ashcroft is such a zealot with no moral compass. He'd delight in doing 'the Lord's work' by stealing homes of smaller players if he gets half a chance. McCain has also supported Bush in his campaign and is in bed with the land based casino industry, so it could very well be a 'payback' for his support in this campaign. It also makes sense given this administration's use of the 'fear factor' in their thinking process. The taking away of someone's home just sends incredible messages throughout the country. It's certainly something to watch and plan ahead for if possible.