Crime
Rachel Maddow: A Sheldon Adelson Justice Department Would Make ‘Macau’ Probe Go Away (Video)
Sands boss, billionaire and one of the top contributors to the Republican party, Sheldon Adelson, is fast becoming one of the most loathed men within the poker community. Many players have called for an all-out boycott of his properties. These include the Sands, Venetian and the Palazzo in Las Vegas. Sands also operates properties in other parts of the US including Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as well as in China's Macau.
Three Men in Alabama Gambling Voter Selling, Bingo Bribery Case Sentenced to 5-7 Years
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — (Associated Press) - A federal judge has sentenced three men who pleaded guilty in an Alabama Statehouse bribery scheme to several years in federal prison.
Sentencing in Alabama Gambling Vote Selling, Bingo Bribery Convictions Today
Phillip Rawls, Associated Press
(Associated Press) - A former federal judge said it’s highly unlikely that a casino developer who admitted offering millions in bribes will come out a winner in his attempt to avoid a prison sentence.
Three of the four people who pleaded guilty in Alabama’s gambling corruption case — Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley, casino lobbyist Jarrod Massey and former state Rep. Terry Spicer — are scheduled for sentencing today in Montgomery by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson.
Texas Online Poker Payment Processor Agrees to Forfeit $6m
A Texas-based online poker payment processor indicted April 15, 2011 has agreed to forfeit $5 million.
LST Financial of San Antonio and managing director Gregory Colton also promised "not to knowingly provide, either directly or indirectly, payment processing services for Internet gambling, including Internet poker”.
The company claims it was duped into processing the payments by three online poker rooms that were also charged at the time, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com.
Phil Ivey First Interview in Three Years: No Questions About Full Tilt Poker Debacle
We’ve been wanting to hear from Phil Ivey for the past year following the April 2011 indictment of Full Tilt Poker. We got the interview, but sorely lacking was any mention of Full Tilt Poker, not from the interviewer and not from Ivey. Its abrupt closure following accusations of improprieties ranging from a ponzi scheme to money laundering to bank fraud has resulted in millions of dollars being owed to players.
DOJ Asks for Leniency for Absolute Poker Executive
The US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York have requested a reduced sentenced for an executive of Absolute Poker who they say has been fully cooperative following charges of money laundering and bank fraud in April 2011.
Brent Beckley’s sentencing has been postponed on a number of occasions already. Beckley acted as an executive for both Absolute Poker and UB.com.
Howard Lederer, PokerStars File For Motion to Dismiss in Online Poker Complaint
The US Government contends the man most associated with disgraced Full Tilt Poker, Howard Lederer, had been involved in an elaborate ponzi scheme. Last week, US authorities arrested Full Tilt CEO Raymond Bitar, who was indicted for money laundering and bank fraud last year. They slapped a superseding indictment upon Bitar immediately following his arrest, charging he too was involved in a ponzi scheme to defraud customers.
So Just Who Are The 5 Supporting Ray Bitar: Poker Boss Backers Should be Exposed
It came to light Monday night that Full Tilt Poker disgraced CEO Raymond Bitar was released after posting $2 million in cash and property to secure his $2.5 million bond. This included a warehouse owned by the one-time Internet poker kingpin.
None of this was entirely surprising. Immediately following his arrest at New York’s JFK Airport last week, a judge had indicated Bitar would be allowed out on bail.
Full Tilt Poker CEO Ray Bitar Released From Prison
The disgraced CEO of shuttered online poker company Full Tilt Poker has been released from prison after surrendering to law enforcement in the US last week.
Raymond Bitar was freed on $2.5 million bond only after agreeing to post $2 million in property to ensure he returns to U.S. District Court in Manhattan when prompted to do so.
Full Tilt Poker Disgraced CEO Raymond Bitar Must Remain in Prison
Following his arrest this past week, Full Tilt Poker’s CEO Raymond Bitar was unable to make the bail term requirement of $2.4 million.
Over the weekend, things suddenly changed. It now appears as if Bitar will remain in prison for the foreseeable future. The $2.4 million bail deal will no longer be in effect.
Congressman John Tierney Vows to Stay in Race Following Gambling Allegations
Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney has said he will stay in the race to hold his House seat despite allegations he knew of an “illegal” offshore wagering site that employed his wife Patrice.
Tierney’s wife served as an accountant for her brothers betting company based out of Antigua.
Convicted Gambling NBA Ref Now Working for Convicted PA Sports Handicapper
As part of his probation, gambling ref Tim Donaghy is prohibited from associating with known felons. But that’s exactly what Donaghy was caught doing and now the disgraced ref claims he just didn’t know.
It seems he is not the only one.
Poker Scam Unravels in Ontario: Many Victims Likely Have Not Come Forward
A 64-year-old British Columbia man has been arrested outside of Toronto, Canada for his role in allegedly perpetrating an elaborate “poker scam”. Victims are believed to be spread across the country, mostly in Ontario and British Columbia.
Ray Bitar Remains Detained After US Magistrate Agrees to $2.5 Mil Bond
The disgraced former CEO of now shuttered Full Tilt Poker, Ray Bitar, remained behind bars on Tuesday after voluntarily turning himself in on Monday. US law enforcement agents arrested Bitar at New York’s JFK Airport.
Bitar engaged in what prosecutors described as a “ponzi scheme” though many familiar with the case believe Bitar’s activity was more akin to plain out-and-out theft and does not quite meet the definition of a ponzi scheme.
Full Tilt Poker’s Disgraced CEO Ray Bitar in Custody: Angry Tweets Target Howard Lederer
It didn’t take long for the Twitter universe to light up once news broke of Full Tilt Poker CEO Raymond Bitar’s arrest at New York’s JFK International Airport early Monday afternoon (Eastern Standard Time).
US Prosecutors Still Allege Full Tilt Poker, Ray Bitar Engaged in Ponzi Scheme
An additional indictment was filed against Raymond Bitar, CEO of now defunct Full Tilt Poker, on Monday July 2, 2012 after he voluntarily turned himself in to US authorities.
Bitar has remained at large since April 15, 2011 following charges of money laundering and bank fraud in connection with running what was once the world's second largest online poker room.
Full Tilt Poker Founder Ray Bitar Arrested by Feds
Raymond Bitar, Executive of now defunct Full Tilt Poker, has been arrested by federal authorities in the US after turning himself in.
Bitar and about a dozen other men were charged in April 15, 2011 with money laundering and bank fraud in connection with running Full Tilt Poker, at the time the second largest Internet poker venue.
Gambling Granny Allegedly Stole Grandson’s College Funds
The New York Daily News on Monday reported that Edna Sue Pate allegedly stole more that $97,000 from a trust fund set up for grandson Christian Smith over a three year period.
The 73-year-old granny lost $93,000 at a casino during that time.
"Stealing your grandson's money? That's about as bad as you can get, short of physical assault," the boy’s father told ABC News.
Gambling News: Did Congressman John F. Tierney Knew about Sports Betting Business
This is the latest gambling news as published June 29, 2012 during the overnight and early morning hours including breaking news that Massachusetts Representative John F. Tierney may have known about his brother-in-law’s offshore sports betting business. Wife Patricia was convicted of aiding her brothers in running the Antigua-based operation. Please follow us on Twitter here for up-to-the-minute breaking news.
Top Macau Casino Tycoon Bludgeoned With Sticks, Hammer
(UPI) - A top casino magnate was bludgeoned by six men in his own casino in Macau, China, an attack police say is reminiscent of Macau's violent history.
Casino hotel investor Ng Man-sun was dining in the restaurant of the New Century Hotel Saturday with a female guest when six men rushed in and beat them with hammers and sticks. The New York Times reported Ng's legs and arms were badly injured; however, the assailants avoided striking him in the head.
Latest Gambling News – Is EU Really Planning to Reign in Offshore Online Gambling Sites
This is the latest gambling news as published June 28, 2012 during the Noon EST hour includes a plan by the EU to crush online gambling businesses...or maybe not. Please follow us on Twitter here for up-to-the-minute breaking news.
The EU Wants to Reign in Illegal Online Gambling Websites
Full Tilt Poker Defendant John Campos Gets Sentenced to Three Months Prison
A former Utah banker, John Campos, has been sentenced to three months prison time for his role in an alleged money laundering scheme involving online poker rooms PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com.
Campos was sentenced Wednesday in Manhattan. The former vice chairman of SunFirst Bank in St. George pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor gambling charge.
Alleged Connecticut Gambling Boss Denied Bond
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — (Associated Press) - A federal magistrate judge in Connecticut has temporarily denied bond to the reputed boss of illegal gambling rings in southwestern Connecticut allegedly connected to the Gambino crime family.
Police Arrest 6 in Alleged Female Gambling Ring
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Police have arrested six women on gambling-related charges after officers broke up a gambling operation based out of at least two homes in a quiet suburban Atlanta neighborhood.
Gwinnett County police tell WSB-TV they got an anonymous tip from someone who was upset about the amount their spouse was gambling at one of the homes. When officers arrived, they discovered gambling machines.
More Delays in UB.com Exec Brent Beckley Sentencing
As reported by PokerFuse.com, attorneys representing an executive from UB.com are seeking to delay sentencing of their client even further.
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Blue Monday Online Gambling Defendant Must Pay $100 Fine
On June 8, 2012, software professional David Parchomchuk appeared in Maryland Court to face charges stemming from last year's Blue Monday indictments. He accepted a DOJ plea bargain which saw him plead guilty to conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business for which Judge Catherine Blake fined Parchomchuk $100, along with 2 years of unsupervised probation. Prior charges of money laundering were dropped by the DOJ.
Online Gambling Site BetED.com Software Programmer Sentenced
A software programmer with the now defunct online gambling website BetED.com have been sentenced.
Darren Wright and David Parchomchuk were caught up in a sting operation run by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland in May of last year. Agents with that office set up a phone payment processing company and transferred millions of dollars in funds on behalf of BetED.
Connecticut Gambling Ring Busted
NEW HAVEN — (Associated Press) - Federal prosecutors say twenty people have been charged with crimes related to alleged involvement in illegal Internet sports bookmaking and card gambling clubs in Stamford and Hamden. The U.S. Attorney’s office for Connecticut says the defendants include alleged associates of the Gambino crime family.
Bail Denied for Second Suspect in Kidnap Plot to Avenge High Stakes Poker Losses
Pavlos “Paul” Kaimacliotis, a citizen of both the US and Cypriot, won’t be granted bail following accusations that he conspired to kidnap a wealthy Palm Beach Gardens businessman for $20 million in order to avenge losses from high stakes poker games.
Cannibal, Poker Playing Porn Star Arrested in Germany
A self-proclaimed porn star who dabbled in poker, Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, has been arrested in Germany, Canadian authorities confirmed on Monday.
