James Mecham, Kurt Stocks, and Heidi Edwards have pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the guilty pleas of the three individuals who managed SweepsCoach, a company based in El Dorado Hills.
Court documents reveal that Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards facilitated illegal gambling across various locations in the United States, including California and Arizona. They marketed the SweepsCoach gaming operation and formed agreements with internet cafés for access to their portal within these states. The defendants assisted cafés in setting up gaming terminals where players used credits to play slot machine-style games on video screens. These credits could be exchanged for money at the cafés, a practice illegal under California and Arizona laws.
The investigation found that SweepsCoach clients deposited cash from illegal gaming into bank accounts controlled by the defendants. Undercover operations confirmed the use of SweepsCoach games at several internet cafés in both states.
Between January 1, 2012, and November 7, 2017, about $14 million was deposited into accounts managed by Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards. Of this amount, approximately $11 million came from gross gaming receipts in California and Arizona.
This case results from investigations conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control, and California Franchise Tax Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko Coppola is prosecuting.
Sentencing for Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards is set for October 21, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, actual sentences will depend on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines considered by the court.
