Producer pleads guilty in NY online gambling case

NEW YORK (AP) — A Hollywood producer has pleaded guilty in New York for his role in a high-stakes sports betting business run by an organized-crime enterprise.

Bryan Zuriff is executive producer of the Showtime series “Ray Donovan.” He pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to accepting a financial instrument in connection with unlawful Internet gambling.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced the plea Friday, saying Zuriff operated an illegal gambling enterprise in Los Angeles and helped run one in New York.

Zuriff faces five years in prison when sentenced in November. He’s agreed to forfeit $500,000. His lawyer hasn’t returned a message seeking comment.

Authorities in April indicted 34 people accused of being part of a scheme by two Russian-American organized-crime enterprises. They say the enterprises laundered $100 million from illegal gambling.