OMW dutifully passed along an early Plain Dealer report on the Cleveland.com website… that former WKNR/850 host Bruce Drennan was now facing federal charges of cheating on his taxes. We later noticed the story that actually ran in the newspaper the next morning, and figured we’d better clear up a couple of points in Drennan’s case that were not covered in the initial Internet report.
In specific, it appears the feds will NOT charge Drennan in the gambling probe itself, which saw two other men – David Hammon Sr., and David Hammon Jr. – see prison time. An assistant U.S. attorney tells the Plain Dealer’s Mike Tobin that the investigation into Drennan’s alleged involvement in the gambling ring is “finished” and that gambling charges won’t be filed against him.
But as others will tell you, the federal tax charges are more than enough trouble for the popular local sportscaster. He could get three years in prison and a $250,000 fine, though the PD notes that many get more lenient sentences. We were told long ago by a wise person that “you don’t mess with two organizations – the IRS and the phone company”…just ask WKRP in Cincinnati’s Dr. Johnny Fever about that last one.
And about Drennan’s gig as program director and midday host at SportsTalkNetwork.com… STN’s Paul Belfi says the news “does not change” his status at the Internet webcaster, and says he has “nothing but high regard” for Drennan. When we tried to tune in Friday, we didn’t know that Drennan apparently doesn’t do a Friday show regularly…
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