by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Columbus, OH — Donald R. Codey Jr., former president and general manager of Freehold Raceway, was sentenced for stealing $3,045 in raceway promotional vouchers and assisting two patrons to cash more than $1.3 million in bad checks at the track.

The announcement of the sentencing was made by Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor and reported on www.jacksonnjonline.com.

The 65-year-old Codey was sentenced to a five-year term of probation by Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully in Monmouth County. He is also jointly and severally liable with two co-defendants for paying a total of $902,749 in restitution to the corporate owner of Freehold Raceway related to the bad checks.

Codey pleaded guilty on Aug. 20 to third-degree theft by unlawful taking for the theft of vouchers. Codey admitted that he stole 16 “Mystery Vouchers” worth a total of $3,045. The Mystery Vouchers were sent by Freehold Raceway to track patrons and patrons of the Favorites off-track wagering site in Toms River. Each voucher was issued to be redeemable for a “mystery” amount, ranging from $2 to $5,000, if taken to the Favorites site on President’s Day, Feb. 16, 2009, and used to gamble. Codey used the vouchers to gamble at Favorites that day.

Codey also pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree issuing bad checks, one for each of the two patrons he assisted in cashing bad checks.