New Jersey state police were forced to arrest their targets in an illegal gambling ring allegedly run by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet a day earlier than planned after an FBI agent inadvertently let NHL officials know about the investigation, according to The Star Ledger of Newark, N.J.
The report cited law enforcement sources, who told The Star Ledger there was no evidence the tipoff harmed the sting but that "it couldn't have helped" the investigation into Tocchet and state trooper James Harney.
The newspaper reported that a wiretap on Tocchet's phone recorded a conversation between Tocchet and a league official. The league official reportedly discussed the investigation with Tocchet and told the coach his phone calls had been monitored. The conversation took place before news of the gambling ring was reported in the media.
FBI and New Jersey state police declined to comment to The Star Ledger. Tocchet's attorney, Kevin Marino, and an NHL spokeswoman also would not discuss the case with the newspaper.
Sources told The Star Ledger that an FBI agent mistakenly tipped off the NHL to the investigation when he asked the league for information on how to find and serve a subpoena on an NHL player outside of New Jersey. The agent reportedly was unaware of the investigation's sensitive nature.