Man Gets 3 Years in Russian Mob Gambling Case: Penchant for Violence Revealed

An associate of a notorious Russian Mob boss was sentenced this week to three years for his role in a sports betting ring that generated around $100 million.  His sentence came just one day prior to the same judge ordering a wealthy art gallery owner to one year behind bars.

Anatoly Golubchik received the stiff sentence.  He is an alleged associate of Alimzhan Tokhtakounov, believed to have been the ringleader of the group.  Gallery owner Hillel “Nelly” Nahmad, sentenced one day later, appeared to gain all the notoriety thanks to his high profile and Playboy lifestyle.

2012 wiretapped phone conversations between Tokhtakounov and New Jersey resident Golubchik reveal the Russian Mafia’s penchant for violence.  The conversations have been translated from Russian to English.

“I told him, ‘You are not paying there. Any of your games. You’re gonna owe me a car,’” the underworld boss said in one phone conversation with Golubchik.

“I told him yesterday, 'Why aren't you paying?'" Tokhtakounov said of one client who griped about having to pay a debt.  "So what if he would be complaining? I f--- him.”

Golubchik, 57, of Fort Lee, N.J., was sentenced Tuesday for his leading role in the international illegal betting operation, which catered to Russian oligarchs.

Both Golubchik and Nahmad were given the harshest sentences beyond what their initial plea bargains had called for.  Golbuchik’s attorneys were hoping for between 21 and 27 months.  Nahmad wanted community service and house arrest.

“We had a plea deal that was carefully negotiated,” attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said in regard to the Golubchik sentencing. “In 24 years of practice I’ve never had a judge impose a sentence so drastically different.”

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman’s stiff sentencing of Golubchik provided a glimpse into what Nahmad could have expected the following day, and the judge lived up to those expectations.

He told Nahmad that allowing him to stay free and start a charity that would teach inner city youth about the arts "would breed contempt for the law."

Prominent poker players and a high stakes poker game host dubbed the “Poker Princess”, Molly Bloom, were also indicted last year for their alleged roles in the scheme.  Bloom is awaiting sentencing following a plea bargain.

“Ray Donovan” producer Bryan Zuriff was also charged in the scheme but received a more lenient sentence.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com