Crime
No Mention of Offshore Gambling Biz During John Tierney Richard Tisei First Debate
Perhaps challenger Richard Tisei is saving the best for last but Thursday night’s first debate in Massachusetts 6th Congressional contest made no mention of incumbent Democrat John Tierney’s affiliation to an offshore sports betting enterprise.
Alabama Casino Lobbyist Gets Probation
MONTGOMERY – (Associated Press) - The first person to plead guilty in Alabama’s gambling corruption investigation was sentenced to probation Tuesday for helping bring down two bigger players in a bribery scheme designed to keep electronic bingo casinos operating.
Alabama Casino Lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy to be Sentenced Today
A casino lobbyist who admitted to bribing Alabama officials as part of a “vote selling” scheme will be sentenced in Montgomery today.
The one time Country Crossing casino lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy is hoping to receive probation although prosecutors are recommending two years in prison. She faces five years for her conspiracy plea.
Country Crossing Casino developer Ronnie Gilley has already been sentenced to prison more than five years in prison for his role in the scheme. Gilley's lobbyist, Jarrod Massey, received the same sentence.
Slain Woman’s Husband One of Those Charged in Oklahoma City High Stakes Poker Case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The husband of a slain Oklahoma City woman is one of nine people accused of running an illegal gambling operation that included high-stakes poker games, U.S. Attorney Sanford Coats said Monday.
81-Count Federal Indictment Unsealed in Oklahoma Gambling, Money Laundering Case
(Source: FBI) - OKLAHOMA CITY—Today, an 81-count federal indictment was unsealed charging 10 defendants with crimes involving an illegal gambling operation and the money laundering of proceeds derived from that operation, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma; Jim Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Andrea D. Whelan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.
The defendants charged in this indictment are:
DOJ Confirms it has Possession of Absolute Poker Software Platform
PokerFuse.com is reporting that the US Department of Justice confirmed receipt of a copy of shuttered Absolute Poker’s software platform last week from Korean developer Quad Dimensions.
Congressman Tierney Family Gambling Ties ‘Fair Play’
Massachusetts Republican candidate for Congress, Richard R. Tisei, has vowed that his opponent’s family ties to an offshore gambling operation will be brought up during upcoming debates.
Poker Champ Jonathan Dahamel Former Girlfriend Pleads Guilty to Home Invasion
LONGUEUIL, Que. – (Canadian Press) - The ex-girlfriend of poker champion Jonathan Duhamel pleaded guilty Friday to three criminal charges in connection with his beating and robbery.
Fifth Suspect in Jonathan Duhamel Home Invasion Arrested: Girlfriend to Plea Guilty
Just one day before 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jonathan Duhamel’s former girlfriend is expected to plead guilty in the brazen December armed robbery of his home, a fifth suspect has been apprehended and faces eight criminal charges.
The yet-to-be-identified suspect is believed to have been the getaway driver that day. Charges include armed robbery; illegal confinement; issuing threats; mischief; breaking and entering; and conspiracy.
Online Gambling Payment Processor Gets 36 Months Behind Bars
Donald Hellinger has been sentenced to 36 years behind bars for illegally transmitting $44 million in overseas Internet gambling winnings to US citizens through a defunct Bucks Country company during the years 2005 and 2006.
Breaking News: Full Tilt Poker Exec Nelson Burtnick Pleads Guilty
NEW YORK – (Associated Press) - A Canadian man who once led the payment processing at two online poker companies pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy and gambling charges, agreeing to cooperate in the government's crackdown on the businesses.
Nelson Burtnick, of Vancouver, entered the plea before a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, where several others have already pleaded guilty to similar charges. He is among nearly a dozen people charged in a case that shut down U.S. operations of the three largest poker companies.
The Howard Lederer Files: Full Tilt Poker Frontman Speaks Out in 7-Hour Interview
Poker News was scheduled to begin publishing the first segment of what it is calling “The Howard Lederer Files” (or “The Lederer Files” for short) beginning today Tuesday September 18, 2012.
Nebraska State Senator Pleads Guilty in Gambling Probe
Nebraska State Senator Brenda Council has plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of violating campaign finance laws in connection to gambling.
Council admitted to making 36 withdrawals totaling $63,000 from her campaign account for the purpose of gambling. $36,000 of those funds were ultimately returned.
Another Philly Mobster Sentenced for Illegal Gambling, Loan Sharking
South Philadelphia mobster, Martin Angelina, 50, has been sentenced to nearly five year in a federal prison for racketeering related to loan sharking and illegal gambling.
Angelina had already plead guilty last month to a racketeering conspiracy and admitted to using extortion to collect on loans.
Feds Dispute Cardroom International’s Rights to Full Tilt Poker Software
The US Government has filed a response to Cardroom International’s assertion that it has rights to control Full Tilt Poker’s software. Full Tilt Poker, which was acquired by PokerStars this summer, is set to come back online the first week in October.
Cardroom had previously filed a Civil Racketeering Influenced and Corruption Organization Act (RICO) suit alleging wrongdoing by Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars last month.
Guilty Plea for Woman Accused in Poker Pro Jonathan Duhamel Home Invasion
LONGUEUIL, Que. – (Canadian Press) - A lawyer says there will be a guilty plea in the beating and robbery of a world poker champion.
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Perth Australia Barrister Mistress Tells of ‘Gambling Problem’ on Horses at Murder Trial
A once prominent Perth barrister, Lloyd Rayney, is on trial for the murder of his wife. In recent days, his daughters testified that their father was “not fit enough” to drag their mother’s body across the front yard into her car.
Philly Mobster Gaeton Lucibello Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison
Gaeton Lucibello, 59, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving extortion and illegal gambling, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and George C. Venizelos, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division.
Poker Pro Jonathan Duhamel Ex Girlfriend Beat Up in Prison, Home Invasion Trial Delayed
The ex-girlfriend of 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Jonathan Duhamel has had her trial delayed after suffering a beating in prison.
Bianca Rojas Latraverse, who is accused of orchestrating a brazen home invasion of Duhamel’s suburban Montreal home last December, was involved in an altercation that left her face visibly marked. Latraverse attempted to shield her face upon leaving the courtroom Friday.
UBS Rogue Trader Labeled as ‘Naked Gambler’
(Reuters) - Former UBS trader Kweku Adoboli put the Swiss bank's survival at risk through naked gambling that risked up to $12 billion, cooking the books and lying to his bosses until his "pyramid of fraud" collapsed, a British court heard on Friday.
Adoboli, 32, is on trial by jury in London accused of fraud and false accounting that in the end cost UBS $2.3 billion. He has pleaded not guilty.
Nebraska State Senator Charged for Using Funds for Gambling
A Nebraska State Senator has been charged with using $63,000 in campaign funds to fuel her gambling addition.
Omaha’s Brenda Council was charged on Thursday with two misdemeanor counts of abusing public records.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning's Offices investigated subpoenaing bank and casino records.
The funds in question were spent at various state casinos during the period 2010-2012.
Council is running for a second term and has shown no indications of dropping out at this time.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
What The US Government Alleges Howard Lederer Did With The Full Tilt Poker Player Funds
Distributions to Full Tilt Owners, Including the FTP Insiders 124: Rather than protect player funds as promised, Full Tilt Poker distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to its owners. Beginning in April 2007 and continuing through April 2011, Tiltware LLC’s Board of Directors, to wit, the FTP Insider Defendants, authorized the distribution of approximately $443,860,530 to the owners of Tiltware LLC, including themselves, further promoting and facilitating the ongoing illegal operation of Full Tilt Poker during this time period.
60 Gambling Machines From 40 Businesses Seized Throughout Phoenix
PHOENIX – (Associated Press) - Nearly 60 gambling machines were seized at more than 40 businesses across the valley and agents believe a criminal organization from California is behind the illegal machines.
State and federal investigators served search warrants at smoke shops, gas stations and markets over the weekend. The businesses had games similar to slot machines that allowed players to earn credits and cash them in for money -- but that's against the law.
The machines were taken from businesses everywhere from Surprise to Mesa to Phoenix.
DOJ Demands $42 Million From Full Tilt Poker Ring Leader Howard Lederer
The Department of Justice filed an amended civil complaint against four Full Tilt Poker executives including Howard Lederer, seeking more than $100 million total. Lederer is being told to fork over approximately $42 million.
The US Government is seeking the following:
The government is seeking the following judgments:
Raymond Bitar – $40.8 million
Howard Lederer – $42.5 million
Christopher Ferguson – $42 million
Rafael Furst – $11.7 million
Skybook.com Owner Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison
A St. Charles, Louisiana man, Anthony Buttitta, 43, has been sentenced to 2.5 years behind bars for tax evasion. He and his father, Dominic Buttitta, 69, of South Barrington, plead to two felony counts filed against them in U.S. District Court and were sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur.
Bookie Pleads Guilty in Philadelphia Mob Case That Will Delve Into City’s Violent Past
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) - A sports bookie has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges a month before eight co-defendants go on trial in a mob case.
Louis Barretta became the third person to plead guilty in the case, which focuses on what prosecutors say was gambling and loansharking within Philadelphia's La Cosa Nostra under acting boss Joseph Ligambi.
Malta-Based Online Gambling Company Head Jailed 14 Months
Dimitrios Drosos, 45, director of betting company Gold Victory Ltd, has been jailed for 14 months after being convicted of defrauding several people of a total of €500,000.
The court found that the Malta-based company had not paid winnings to several players and the accused had pocketed the money.
€70,000 paid by the accused as bail money were forfeited after it was established that Drosos,a Greek national resident in Kappara, had jumped bail and escaped from Malta.
He was re-arrested on the strength of a European arrest warrant.
Mobster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger Attorneys to Update Judge Ahead of Trial
BOSTON (Associated Press) — Federal prosecutors and lawyers for mobster James ‘‘Whitey’’ Bulger are due in court this week to update a judge on the exchange of evidence in the case.
Bulger is the former leader of the notorious Winter Hill Gang and was also an FBI informant against the Mafia. He’s accused of participating in 19 murders.
David Gzesh Confirms Sale of Seized Online Gambling Domains
Michael H. Berkens of TheDomains.com has confirmed that attorney David Gzesh purchased and put up for sale online gambling domain names previously seized by US authorities.
Massive Israeli Gambling Ring Busted: Arabian Race Horses Confiscated
Law enforcement in Northern Israel announced a major gambling bust on Monday. Dozens of top dollar Arabian race horses were also taken into custody during a raid on the operation.
Authorities believe the business could have been engaging in money laundering activities.
