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<b>First Posted:</b> 7/30/2010<br><br>By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@www.timesleader.comLaw &amp; Order Reporter 
SCRANTON &amp;ndash; A document filed in federal court Thursday indicates the owner of a popular area sports bar has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors regarding charges that he utilized the restaurant to operate a sports betting operation.

The U.S. Attorney&amp;rsquo;s Office filed a &amp;ldquo;criminal information&amp;rdquo; against Patrick Patte charging him with transmitting wagering information through the use of wire communication. The document is usually filed in conjunction with a plea agreement. Prosecutors filed a sealed document in the case, but the sealing order does not indicate if it is a plea deal.
Patte, 71, was among three people charged on Feb. 12 with allegedly operating an Internet-based sports betting ring out of Patte&amp;rsquo;s Sports Bar on West Hollenback Avenue in Wilkes-Barre.
He was scheduled to appear for hearing on the charge on Aug. 2, but the proceeding was canceled based on the government&amp;rsquo;s filing.
Court documents filed in connection with the case allege Patte and his co-defendants, Mark Fino, 52, and Christopher Marion, 34, conspired to accept bets on sporting events over the website willtobet.com.
Bettors would then go to the bar to collect their winnings or pay their losses.
Fino and Marion pleaded guilty in April to one count of aiding and abetting the transmission of wagering information through use of wire communication. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, but Marion&amp;rsquo;s attorney, Joseph O&amp;rsquo;Brien, filed a motion Thursday seeking to postpone his sentencing.
In addition to the criminal charges, Patte faces a separate, civil action filed by prosecutors that seeks to seize the sports bar under federal criminal forfeiture laws.
That action, filed a week after Patte&amp;rsquo;s arrest, alleges the bar is subject to forfeiture because it was utilized to facilitate a crime.
Patte&amp;rsquo;s attorney, Michael Butera of Pittston, declined to comment Thursday on whether a plea agreement has been reached regarding the criminal charges and/or the forfeiture action.
In previous interviews, Butera said Patte adamantly denies any gambling activities took place at the bar.

Papers: Plea deal in works for Patte