Jail upheld in appeal of 3 in gambling, drug case

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld the sentences of three men who challenged their convictions that followed an investigation into marriage fraud, illegal gambling and drug trafficking.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday did toss one conviction against George Wylie Thompson but noted that it won't affect his 10-year sentence.

The case against Thompson began in 2008 when federal investigators got a judge's permission for a wiretap on grounds that Thompson and four others were involved in a gambling operation.

The wiretap revealed evidence of a drug trafficking scheme and illegal weapons dealings. The appeals court turned away arguments that the wiretap was illegal and that some evidence should have been suppressed.

Wylie also pleaded guilty in Boston to a racketeering count earlier this year.