“My name is Craig and I’m a compulsive gambler. Last bet, June 22, 2018.”
The Reckoning, a video filmed six weeks ago according to The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick, features Craig Carton and his gambling addiction confession.
The video, slated to be released after his sentencing, was leaked to and recounted by Mushnick Thursday night. In the days leading up to his court appearance, Carton’s confessional and brutally honest letter to U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon were both leaked in what could be viewed as a PR tactic.
On September 6th 2017, Carton was arrested on charges of conspiracy, wire and securities fraud. The former WFAN radio host will be sentenced today after being found guilty on November 7th. He faces up to 45 years in prison, although prosecutors recommend between 70 and 87 months, while Carton’s lawyers suggested no more than 27 months.
While earning a reported $2 million annually for his WFAN morning show gig, Carton was starved for more, playing black jack at $25,000 a hand and five hands at a time. It wasn’t about the money according to Carton, his addiction to gambling fed a need to find mentally safe moments, closing off the world.
“Amazingly, I never thought I had a problem, and would vehemently argue with those who thought I did, including my wife who begged me to stop,” Carton wrote in his letter to Judge McMahon.
“Despite my wife’s protest and chiding it wasn’t until my 7-year-old son came home from first grade one day shortly after I was arrested. The teacher had the kids try to draw and write about their favorite places to visit. My beautiful son, Anthony, wrote down that his favorite places to visit were Borgata, Atlantis and The Hard Rock Casino in Florida. That was the first time I said to myself, ‘Hey moron, you have a problem.’ I checked into Gamblers Rehab 48 hours later.”
The former Boomer and Carton radio host says there were many times he was successful playing black jack, winning a great deal more than he lost in 2016, unfortunately he has little to show for it three years later.
“At the time of this taping I’m awaiting sentencing … I threw it all away. It has cost me everything. My relationship with my wife, who I’m legally separated from now. I’m bankrupt. I’m about to be homeless,” Carton states in his confessional according to Mushnick.
This week, Carton has admitted guilt and addiction, offering to be the face of those suffering from compulsive gambling. But in the eye of the prosecutors, the issue is not about Carton’s addiction, it’s about his criminal activity. While addiction may have fueled Carton’s decision to gamble with investor money he took from a separate business, the federal government refuses to accept any excuse for fraudulent activity.
For Carton, every day leading up to the sentencing continued his fall from grace. The once superstar radio host has been dragged through the mud and beaten by his detractors, but today, once his fate is learned, Carton can finally start the long and difficult climb upward to rebuild his life.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
