Crime
Two Alleged Mobsters Captured in Newark: Operated Illegal Gambling Business
Two alleged members of a Philadelphia organized crime syndicate have been arrested in Newark, New Jersey.
Joseph Licata, 70, of Florham Park, and Louis Fazzini, 45, of Caldwell, were apprehended on Thursday and charged with racketeering.
CyberSecurity Bill Passes in House: No Tack-on for Internet Poker
A controversial CyberSecurity bill has passed in the House despite a veto threat from the Obama administration. The bill does not contain any amendment pertaining to the legalization of Internet poker.
The Poker Players Alliance had hoped to attach legislation legalizing Web poker onto this bill.
Online Gambling Payment Processor to be Sentenced May 29th
Don Hellinger, who processed payments for a number of online gambling companies during the years 2005 and 2006 is scheduled for sentencing on May 29th on unrelated charges. It is not immediately known how long a sentence Hellinger will receive.
Hellinger was charged with the illegal distribution of over $40 million in Internet gambling winnings during the years 2005 and 2006 through a money transfer company, Payment Processing, Inc. His connection to online gambling only came about after a grand jury investigation into other alleged illicit activity.
No Further Charges Against Wayne Rooney Father Following Football Betting Scam Arrest
Wayne Rooney Senior will not faces further charges over allegations connected to a football betting scam.
The star footballer’s dad was arrested at his home in West Derby, Liverpool, last October along with eight others, including Liverpool-born Motherwell midfielder Steve Jennings, 26, for “suspicious betting activity”.
Disgraced Online Poker Payment Processor Turned Rat Daniel Tzvetkoff Found Hiding Out in NYC
Australian payment processing tycoon Daniel Tzvetkoff is said to be in a US witness protection program or was.
Tzvetkoff had been slated to be the star witness against defendants in the infamous US Justice Department crackdown on Internet poker rooms last April (2011).
Brent Beckley Sentencing Slated for Today (April 19): Headed Up Absolute Poker
One of the individuals caught up in a massive online poker probe last April was scheduled to be sentenced today (April 19, 2012) after pleading guilty to money laundering and bank fraud.
Brent Beckley was an executive and co-founder of the now shuttered online poker firm, Absolute Poker.
US Attorney Overseeing Online Poker Investigation Among Time’s Most Influential People
The man who is in charge of the investigation that took down three of the world’s largest online poker rooms last April 2011, US Attorney in the Southern District of New York, Preetinder S. Bharara, has been named among Time.com’s “Most Influential People”.
Caterer Who Pulled Gun on Police During Poker Raid Was Serving Up More Than Chow
Police on Wednesday released surveillance video taken from inside a Chattanooga, Tennessee catering hall that became the center of a high stakes poker raid and shooting.
The sting operation happened last week at ATC Healthcare on Gunbarrel Road.
Police Chief Bobby Dodd invited the media to review the video, however, no recording was permitted since the evidence was yet to be turned over to the prosecution or defense.
Catering Clifford Billups, 32, was shot by police after pulling out a gun while trying to escape.
Amarillo Slim Near Death: Brunson Insists his Friend was Not a Child Molester
As Amarillo Slim (real name Thomas Austin Preston, Jr.) lay in critical condition in a hospice preparing to die, fellow poker icon Doyle Brunson has found fit to defend his friend and allegations that he once molested a young girl.
“For the record, no way was he ever a child molester,” Brunson tweeted.
Judge Can Now Accept Misdemeanor Plea in Online Poker Case
A federal judge has confirmed he is prepared to accept a guilty plea from John Campos, one of the men indicted in April of 2011 for handling transactions on behalf of three online poker rooms including Full Tilt, PokerStars and Absolute Poker.
4th Arrest Made in Shooting Death at Brampton, Ontario Poker Tournament
A 4th individual has been arrested exactly one year after the shooting death of Kearn Nedd, 28, who was competing in a poker tournament at a Brampton, Ontario banquet hall.
Sid Rosenberg Fired Following DUI Arrest
Radio personality Sid Rosenberg has been fired following an arrest for DUI in Hollywood, Florida earlier in the month.
WQAM program director Lee Feldman confirmed to a local television station that the controversial host had been terminated.
Police Shoot Caterer During Raid on Poker Game: Poker Playing Doc Assists Wounded (Video)
Police shot a caterer who drew his weapon on an officer during a Thursday evening raid of a Chattanooga high stakes poker game.
An officer fired and hit Clifford Jamar Billups, 32, in the side. He was treated and released. Billups, who has an extensive criminal record, attempted to flee out a back door while the raid was in progress. He has since been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, felony reckless endangerment and illegal gambling and is due to appear in court on Thursday.
Vegas Priest Who Siphoned $650k to Support Video Poker Habit Will Begin Prison Term
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest from Las Vegas was due to surrender Friday at a federal prison in Texas to begin serving three years and one month for siphoning $650,000 from his northwest Las Vegas parish to support a video poker and casino gambling habit.
Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, 59, planned to turn himself in as required at the low-security La Tuna correctional institution in the Texas-New Mexico border town of Anthony, defense attorney Margaret Stanish told The Associated Press.
New York Underground Poker Clubs: Former Waitress Reveals ‘Turn Down the Cleavage’
If you haven’t read it already, the DailyBeast.com presented an excellent account from a former waitress as to the inner workings of New York’s notorious underground poker rooms.
Underground poker rooms are venues not operating in accordance with state gaming laws that typically do not profit from the actual poker games but rather blackjack or craps played on the side.
Sources: UB.com, Absolute Poker Resolution With US Justice Dept. Close to Finalized
PocketFives.com on Thursday reported that UB.com and its sister online poker site, AbsolutePoker.com, are close to finalizing a resolution with the US Justice Department that could see affected customers paid, at least partially.
Sid Rosenberg Found Drunk Behind Wheel in Fetal Position
Back in February Gambling911.com reported on how South Florida sports radio host Sid Rosenberg was accused of owing an offshore sportsbook $44,000. Now comes word of Rosenberg’s arrest for DUI last week.
US Owes Antigua $120 Million in Damages Over WTO Online Gambling Dispute
In 2007 The World Trade Organization (WTO) demanded the United States government pay restitution to the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua after the later won a judgment against Uncle Sam. Antigua essentially accused the USA back then of protectionism and engaging in unfair competitive practices as it pertained to the Caribbean nation’s role in regulating what is now a multi-billion dollar online gambling industry.
Maryland Now Allows Gambling on Fantasy Sports: Life Behind Bars for Booking NFL Games
As Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre, 50, faces more than 25 years behind prison for running one of the largest online sports betting enterprises and targeting residents of Maryland, that state has just begun allowing wagers on fantasy sports. Exceptional timing!!! We can't make this stuff up even if we tried.
Full Tilt Poker CEO Raymond Bitar Facing Prison Term 260 Times That of a Statutory Rapist
Some might be thinking, if Roman Polanski could evade US law enforcement for more than 30 years after being charged with raping a minor, surely the head man at Full Tilt Poker should have no problem remaining on the lam just as long. Bitar, after all, is not a rapist. He's simply a poker player who just happened to be running one of the largest online poker rooms in the world, and he made loads of money doing so.
Former Bookie Smothered in Bed: Wife and Daughter Sentenced to Life
The wife and daughter of a retired bookmaker, Don Banfield, have been found guilty of smothering the man to death for his insurance money.
Former tax inspector Shirley Banfield, 64, and her daughter Lynette, 40, admitted to two charges of conspiracy to defraud and charges of forgery as well as the perverting of course of justice, though they denied murdering Banfield 11 years ago.
The pair pocketed more than £120,000, some of which went into the purchase of their Canterbury, England home.
ScAYREy Fact: Bodog Founder’s Attorney Slotnick had Not Lost a Case in 12 Years
News of Bodog founder Calvin Ayre hiring the father-son tandem of Barry and Stuart Slotnick to represent him in a criminal case filed by the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland might not have resonated throughout the industry the way it should have. Hardly any industry media outside of Gambling911.com really reported on this story.
Man Who Bilked Charity Poker Events Out of $6k Gets 5 Years
A former Warrenville Adelman, Chris Halley, has been sentenced to 5 years for bilking $6000 from charity poker events.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty last month to two counts of theft. Authorities say he accepted money to help two men run the events in Naperville last year.
Calvin Ayre Hires Slotnick Father Son Team to Take on Baltimore US Attorney
Bodog.com founder Calvin Ayre has hired the father son tandem of Barry and Stuart Slotnick to represent him just one month after being charged with money laundering by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland.
A-Rod Accused of Taking Part in Ponzi Scammer High Stakes Poker Game
A convicted ponzi scammer, Bradley Ruderman, testified in court on Thursday that he witnessed Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) take part in one of his high stakes poker games, something Rodriguez has flatly denied in the past.
Gambling Addiction in Asian Community Highlighted After Quadruple Slaying in San Fran
Following the brutal slaying of five family members last week in their San Francisco home, New America Media’s Aruna Lee, Andrew Lam and Summer Chiang examined the gambling epidemic among Asians.
JetBlue Pilot Talked About ‘Sins in Las Vegas’ Before Diversion (Video)
JetBlue Airways captain Clayton Osbon’s erratic behavior Tuesday that forced Flight 191 en route to Las Vegas to make an emergency stopover in Amarillo, Texas included rants about the “Sins in Las Vegas”.
"We're not going to Vegas," Osbon said.
Judge Won’t Accept Guilty Plea in Online Poker Case
Just one day after banker John Campos entered into a guilty plea connected to the processing of payments for three large online poker rooms, a judge has disallowed the guilty plea.
Alderney Gaming Control Commission Publishes External Review of Full Tilt Poker
The Alderney Gaming Control Commission (AGCC) has published an independent external review of its investigation leading up to the revocation of Full Tilt Poker’s license last summer.
Full Tilt Poker was named in a US-Government indictment April 15, 2011. Executives from the beleaguered firm were charged with money laundering and bank fraud. Accounts connected to FTP were frozen. The company has not paid customers for nearly a year now.
Second Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars Indictment
John Campos, the former vice-chairman of a Utah bank that processed payments for online poker firms Full Tilt.
Poker, UB.com and PokerStars has plead guilty to a single misdemeanor charge
