Federal gambling hearing for former South Pittsburg mayor postponed

photo James "Mike" Killian, former mayor of South Pittsburg, makes his way to the Joel Solomon Federal Building with supporters early Thursday morning where he is scheduled to appear before the judge on a federal gambling charge. Prosecutors allege Killian ran an online sports betting and video poker machine business in multiple locations for years while mayor.

Today's hearing in which former South Pittsburg Mayor Mike Killian was scheduled to plead guilty, was postponed until Aug. 22 when the federal judge found numerous inconsistencies in the plea agreement.

U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier gave the Washington D.C.-based prosecutor more time to comply with local rules regarding plea agreements.

Killian and co-defendant Robert Barry Cole have agreed to plead guilty to one federal gambling charge each after an FBI investigation revealed that the pair were operating an online sports betting operation.

Killian was also charged with running illegal video poker machines at various locations in Marion County.

The charges occurred before and during Killian's tenure as mayor. Killian served as South Pittsburg mayor from 2005 until 2012.

For more see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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