A California man who last year pleaded guilty to transferring nearly $3 million to "an illegal gambling operation which accepted and placed bets on sporting events" filed a court motion on Tuesday requesting to withdraw his guilty plea. Gregory Silveira of La Quinta pleaded guilty in June to three counts laundering funds from an unnamed "gambling client" of his between February 2010 and February 2013. Outside the Lines, citing sources, last year identified Mickelson as the client.
Federal officials have declined to offer details about the case. But on Tuesday, court filings by Silveira's new defense attorney state that Silveira pleaded guilty initially due to bad advice from his original attorney and that Silveira was, by transferring the money, attempting to perform a "personal favor to an individual who did not wish his wagering activity to become public.