Crime

Obama’s Choice of Ambassador to France has Ties to High Stakes Poker Bust, Mob

A recent New York City bust tied to illegal sports betting and high stakes poker games led to the indictment of a prominent art dealer, a so-called “Princess of Poker” and an individual said to be a major figure in Russian organized crime.

Submitted by Ace King on, Mon, 04/29/2013 - 18:41

Hong Kong Police Arrest 4 in Hacking Death of Triad Boss: Disemboweled in Front of Many

Hong Kong police announced Monday the arrests of 4 individuals ages 18 through 30 for the brutal hacking death of alleged triad boss. Only the age (30) and surname (Tse) of the victime were disclosed.

The attack occurred outside a hospital in front of many onlookers. One of the strikes nearly disemboweled the victim.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Mon, 04/29/2013 - 04:10

Witnesses Testify in High Stakes Poker Game Killing

Eight men involved in a Saginaw Township, Michigan high stakes poker game testified against Quintel A. West this week.

West is accused of fatally shooting Michael Kuhlman, who was hosting the poker game at his home. West and an accomplice were attempting to enter the home, according to the witnesses. When Kuhlman placed his weight against the door to try and prevent the two men from entering, he was shot through the door. The bullet entered his lung.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Fri, 04/26/2013 - 19:48

More Internet Cafe Raids Reveal Gambling, Drugs, Booze

CBS13 in Sacramento has uncovered what appears to be an illegal gambling business at a local Internet café.

From CBS13:

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Fri, 04/26/2013 - 11:45

Ray Bitar Must Give Up $3m Mansion, Surrender 18 Bank Accounts

Former Full Tilt Poker CEO Ray Bitar may not be serving any jail time but he will have to surrender several coveted assets including a $3 million mansion in Glendora, California.

Bitar was among those indicted for his role in running an illegal online poker room, Full Tilt Poker. He recently plead guilty to charges of fraud and violating a 2006 gambling prohibition act.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Thu, 04/25/2013 - 20:25

Art Gallery With Alleged Ties to High Stakes Poker Probe, Russian Mob Reopens

The Helly Nahmad Gallery, located within the confines of the ritzy Midtown Manhattan Carlyle Hotel, has reopened.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 04/24/2013 - 21:37

Schillinger had Questionable Past: Was Fugitive Right Up to ‘Suicide’

World Sports Exchange founder Steve Schillinger came under fire early on in his offshore gambling days. This past weekend, one of online gambling’s pioneers was found dead in his Antigua condo, shot in the head, in a story first broken by Gambling911.com on Monday morning.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 04/24/2013 - 00:59

Two Men Sentenced in Poker Player Extortion Plot: Hacked and Stole Naked Pics

Keith James Hudson, 39, has plead guilty to hacking into professional poker players accounts and stealing naked pictures then attempting to extort money. Hudson will serve two years prison time.

Also pleading guilty, Tyler Schrier, 23, who was sentenced to 3 1/2 years behind bars. He was sentenced for conspiracy, extortion and unauthorized access to another personal's computer information without permission.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 04/23/2013 - 23:59

Colorful Characters Emerge in High Stakes Poker Case With Russian Mob Ties

NEW YORK — (Associated Press) - It’s a case teeming with colorful characters: a reputed Russian mob boss once accused in an Olympic scandal, a wealthy art world impresario who hung out with Leonardo DiCaprio and a woman named Molly Bloom who gained a celebrity following by hosting them at high-stakes poker games.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Tue, 04/23/2013 - 17:21

Foul Play Not Ruled Out in Shooting Death of WSEX.com Founder Steve Schillinger

Homicide detectives on the Caribbean island of Antigua have not ruled out homicide in the shooting death of World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) founder Steve Schillinger.

The 60-year-old businessman was found dead in his Darkroom Beach condominium late Friday. He had been shot in the head with a .380 pistol.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 04/23/2013 - 11:22

Bet365 Named in Affidavits Tied to Criminal Complaint

Bet365 was recently mentioned in the affidavits supporting a criminal complaint filed against two individuals in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York who are accused of money laundering connected with an Internet gambling operation. Bet365 was not named as a defendant, but the question remains; can a non-U.S. facing site be at risk for prosecution as a result of customers who obtain access to their sites through masked IP addresses?

Submitted by C Costigan on, Mon, 04/22/2013 - 18:45

Legends Sports Defendant Spiros Athanas Helped Police Solve Brutal Murder

A man indicted for his alleged role in a massive sports betting ring actually helped US authorities capture a vicious killer, Gambling911.com can reveal.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Mon, 04/22/2013 - 13:57

The Legends Sports WagerWeb Bailout Explained

A number of Gambling911.com readers have inquired as to the nature of a 5-time rollover requirement in order to withdraw funds from their Legends Sports betting accounts, which are now in the process of being transferred over to WagerWeb. Good news, WagerWeb has informed Gambling911 that the rollver requirement is now 5 times (not 10).

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Sun, 04/21/2013 - 19:03

Poker Princess Pleads Not Guilty in High Stakes Poker Russian Mob Probe

A woman cited for running high stakes poker games for celebrities, athletes and Wall Street bigwigs has pleaded Not Guilty.

Bloom and 33 others were indicted this past week in connection with their affiliation to a multi-million dollar international gambling ring alleged to have ties to the Russian Mafia. She was arraigned in a Manhattan federal court on Friday.

Submitted by Ace King on, Sun, 04/21/2013 - 13:35

Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Capo Anthony Staino Pleads Guilty to Racketeering, Gambling

Anthony Staino, 55, of Swedesboro, N.J., pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a racketeering conspiracy as a capo in the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family and committing loan sharking and illegal gambling.

Submitted by Press Release on, Fri, 04/19/2013 - 10:44

Not a Pretty Picture Painted of Art Dealer Tied to Poker, Sports Betting Probe

The Business Insider of Australia gave the low down on New York-based art dealer Helly Nahmad, a Lebanese-American indicted this week in connection with an international high stakes poker/sports betting ring.

It ain’t all that pretty either.

Megan Willett writes:

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 04/18/2013 - 23:11

Producer of Showtime’s ‘Ray Donovan’ Denies Wrongdoing in FBI Poker Sting

Bryan Zuriff, an Executive Producer for the upcoming Showtime drama “Ray Donovan” has denied any wrongdoing in connection to an FBI probe of high stake poker games and sports betting with ties to the Russian Mafia.

Submitted by Ace King on, Thu, 04/18/2013 - 13:12

Insurance Broker Used $1.9 Million of Clients Funds to Gamble Online

An insurance broker from Prudential has been indicted, charged with allegedly bilking his insurance clients out of over $1.9 million and using those funds to gamble online.

The indictment alleges that Daniel J. Trolaro, 34, unlawfully used the funds of nine clients to place wagers via the Internet from June 2008 through February of this year while employed at Prudential in East Hanover, New Jersey.

Trolaro will not be arrested, however, he must appear before a judge in Morris County in the coming weeks.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 04/18/2013 - 11:32

Ohio AG Unit Raids Internet Cafes Over Illegal Gambling

COLUMBUS – (Associated Press) - Early Wednesday afternoon, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty were in Euclid and announced the execution of six search warrants on six separate internet cafes that are currently open and operating illegally in Cuyahoga County.

Three are owned by VS2 Software, the company that supplies the Video Lottery Terminals.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Wed, 04/17/2013 - 22:18

Legends Sports to Shut Down: Will Transfer Accounts to Other Book

Exactly one week after indictments were handed down against 34 individuals tied to Panama-based Legends Sports, that long established sportsbook has made the decision to shut down.

Legends alerted customers via email that they were in talks with another top online sportsbook to have all accounts transferred.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Wed, 04/17/2013 - 17:23

NJ Men Arrested for Running Illegal Poker Games Tied to Russian Mob

Yugheshwar Rajkumar of Bergen County, New Jersey, has been taken into custody for his alleged role in running high stakes poker games tied to Russian organized crime.

The games were attended by Hollywood celebrities, athletes and high powered Wall Street executives, according to an indictment handed down on Tuesday.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Wed, 04/17/2013 - 11:54

Youth Brutally Murdered for Protesting Gambling Racket: Genitals Cut

An Indian youth was brutally murdered for his role in protesting a gambling racket.

The body of 20-year-old Subho Dhaki was found Tuesday morning at Shibtala in Dhulagarh, Howrah, under Sankrail police station. His genitals had been cut and placed in his pocket. Dhaki’s throat was also slashed.

The victim had protested gambling activity near his home at the Dhulagarh Market.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 04/16/2013 - 22:58

Spiros ‘The Greek’ Athanas Released on $1 Million Bond

One of online sports betting’s most legendary bookmakers, Spiros “The Greek” Athanas, has been released on $1 million bond according to court documents.

Athanas, one of 34 charged last Wednesday in connection to his alleged role in a multi-billion dollar sports betting ring, turned himself in two days later.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 04/16/2013 - 22:41

FBI Names Poker Hostess Molly Bloom, Others in Massive Gambling Ring Raid

Feds released the names of poker players connected to an investigation into a Russian organized crime ring that held high stakes poker games.

FBI agents arrested several people Tuesday in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and elsewhere as part of the investigation. Federal agents also searched a Madison Avenue art gallery located within the prestigious Carlyle Hotel.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 04/16/2013 - 21:48

NY’s Carlyle Hotel Raided in High Stakes Poker Probe With Mafia, Art Ties

A section of New York’s ritzy Carlyle Hotel was raided on early Tuesday in connection to an international multi-billion dollar gambling investigation with alleged ties to the Russian Mafia.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 04/16/2013 - 16:38

Legends Sports ‘Bookie’ to Remain Behind Bars: Deemed a ‘Fight Risk’

While three of four individuals arrested in Florida for their role in a massive multi billion dollar sports betting ring have been released on bond, one will remain behind bars.

Prosecutors claim Philip Gurian, 51, acted as a “bookie” out of his Boca Raton home on behalf of Panama-based Legends Sports. The Sun-Sentinel reported Monday evening that Gurian had employees working for him in 10 different states and 6 countries. He is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Mon, 04/15/2013 - 21:54

Full Tilt Poker Founder Ray Bitar Sentenced to Time Served

Full Tilt Poker founder Ray Bitar plead guilty last week to operating an illegal online poker company.

Bitar who is awaiting a heart transplant and only has 6 months to a year to live without one, will not be serving any prison time. The former Full Tilt Poker head was sentenced to time served exactly two years to the day he was indicted.

Submitted by Ace King on, Mon, 04/15/2013 - 16:11

Hearing Delayed for Oklahoma Man Charged in Florida Case

ANADARKO, Okla. (Associated Press) - An extradition hearing has been delayed for an Oklahoma man indicted in Florida over an alleged illegal gambling ring.

Chase Burns is the owner of International Internet Technologies. He faces racketeering and conspiracy charges over several Internet cafes affiliated with Allied Veterans of the World.

Federal prosecutors allege the cafes are illegal casinos - and that those involved have been using the charity as a front for a $300 million gambling operation.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Fri, 04/12/2013 - 16:58

Business as Un-Usual: Legends Sports Still Paying Out Within Hours

While no official statement has been issued by the betting company following Wednesday’s shocking wave of indictments by US law enforcement, a few customers of Legends.com (also found at www.legends.eu) have reported payouts within just a matter of hours on Thursday.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Thu, 04/11/2013 - 22:02

First Ever Online Gambling Affiliate Indicted for Recommending Website

In the first case of its kind, an online gambling affiliate based in the US has been named in an indictment for promoting an online sportsbook by simply recommending them.

Gregory “Patchman” Roberts was among 34 charged in a sweeping investigation into a sports betting operative, Legends Sports, which authorities claim had operatives based in both the US and in Panama. Gambling911.com first broke the story Wednesday afternoon.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Thu, 04/11/2013 - 11:30