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HANCOCK COUNTY, Ind.–A man from New Palestine has been arrested and is accused of running an illegal gambling business that took in more than $17 million in sports bets over a three-year period. 

Police say, Bret Wells, 46, is facing six felony charges including corrupt business influence, professional gambling, promoting professional gambling and theft. 

Court documents say Wells brought in over $17 million in bets that made him more than $1.8 million in profits. They also say he bet on New Palestine High School football playoff games last fall. Investigators say he made over 176,000 bets between January 2016 and May of this year. 

The Indiana Gaming Commission says they busted him through surveillance and obtained information from a former business partner, who says Wells also stole equipment from him. 

The gambling operation had clients in eight different central Indiana counties, investigators say. 

Sports betting became legal this week.  

(PHOTO: Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)