Dan Hellinger, a payment processor and publisher with ties to Bodog, has pleaded guilty to charges of operating an illegal gambling business, according to LegalPokerSites.com.

Hellinger was indicted already on February 10 on charges of conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling operation, transmission of wagers and wagering information, and operating an illegal money transmission business, and international money laundering.

Also named in the indictment were Ronald Hellinger, Randy Trost, Jami Pearlman, Michele Quigley, and Michael Weisberg, who are accused of funneling more than $40 million in funds from "foreign internet gambling business to bettors in the United States."

The operation is alleged to have used a company, Payment Processing Center LLC, to process the illegal payments, working for among others Bodog.com, Betonusa.com, Sportsbook.com and Betonsports.com.

The 55-year-old Hellinger's operation was uncovered during a grand jury investigation into a telemarketing scam, allegedly run by Hellinger and his accomplices.

Payement Processing Center LCC was in this connection used to sell phony medical insurances to clients in order to obtain bank account information details.

If found guilty without the plea deal, Hellinger could have looked at as much as 91 years in prison as well as a $4.25 million fine.

However, after pleading guilty on charges of running an illegal gambling operation, his sentence could now be set to up to five years and fines up to $250,000.

The guilty plea is another thorn in the eye for Bodog, whose founder Calvin Ayre was indicted on other charges of illegal online gambling activities last week.

The indictment also names the Bodog Brand and included the seizure of the Bodog.com domain.