Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 12, 1990 TAG: 9005120158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CAMDEN, N.J. LENGTH: Medium
Forte, 55, remains free on $500,000 bail and faces trial July 2.
Forte told reporters after the hearing that he has been unable to find a job in the television industry. He said his problems stem from compulsive gambling.
"Gamblers don't wake up until it's too late," said Forte, who won nine Emmy Awards during his 25-year career with ABC-TV. "I think that's what happened to me."
Forte's legal problems are mounting. He appeared in Saddle River municipal court Thursday on charges stemming from a complaint filed by a contractor seeking payment for air-conditioning work performed at Forte's home in 1987. Ronald Charnecky contends Forte's check for $5,300 bounced.
Forte currently rents a home in Midlothian, Va. He lost his home in Saddle River after missing mortgage payments. The home was sold at auction for $908,000 last month, and Lustberg said several mortgages still must be paid on the property.
Lustberg said Forte's debts are "in the million-dollar area." He said Forte began gambling in the early 1960s.
"The only reason he needed these loans is because of gambling," Lustberg said.
Forte failed to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in liabilities to banks, the Golden Nugget Casino (now Bally's Grand Casino) and the Internal Revenue Service, the indictment charged.
Forte is accused of two counts of mail fraud, six counts of transporting stolen property across state lines and failure to file a federal income tax return in 1987.
If convicted, he faces more than 70 years in prison and fines of more than a million dollars.
Forte is best known for directing and producing sports events. Besides "Monday Night Football," he also produced and directed ABC's coverage of the 1968 and 1984 summer Olympics, NCAA football, Triple Crown horse races, the Indianapolis 500, major prize fights and major league baseball, including the World Series and All-Star games.
by CNB