Crime
DOJ to Full Tilt Poker Head Howard Lederer: ‘Cry Me a River (Card)’
The Department of Justice has rejected a request by Howard Lederer’s attorneys to reconsider their client’s case on the grounds that poker was recently ruled a “game of skill” by a respected New York Supreme Court judge.
FBI Files on Joe Paterno Reveals Fear of Organized Crime and Gambling Threats
FBI files on Penn State’s long time former football coach, the late Joe Paterno, make no mention of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, who was sentenced in a child abuse case this summer. They do, however, point to the theory that organized criminal factions with gambling interests may have been threatening the head coach and his staff during the late 1970’s and early 80’s via a series of letters.
Full Tilt Poker’s Howard Lederer Uses ‘Skill vs. Chance’ Decision in Latest Defense
[Defense Request for Status Conference in USA v. PokerStars (Lederer, Ferguson, Furst) SDNY civil forfeiture proceedings:]
Illinois Governor Quinn Points to ‘Mob’ as Reason for Gambling Expansion Veto
CHICAGO — (Associated Press) - Citing Chicago’s reputation of mobsters and corruption, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a plan Tuesday to bring casinos to the city and four other areas, leaving irked lawmakers with the task of overruling him.
Judge Weinstein’s Ruling on Poker as ‘Game of Skill’ Could Spark Resurgence Online
Last week’s ruling by New York Supreme Court Judge Jack Weinstein that poker is a “game of skill” and not “one of chance” has many believing an online poker resurgence is on its way. So-called “games of chance” were previously prosecuted under a law used to eradicate organized crime.
In making his decision, Judge Weinstein relied extensively on the findings of a defense expert who analyzed online poker games.
Alabama Casino Lobbyist, Legislator Head to Prison for Gambling Vote Selling Scheme
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — (Associated Press) - A casino lobbyist and a former legislator who pleaded guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption case are now in federal prison.
A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said lobbyist Jarrod Massey reported Monday to the minimum-security prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Former state Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba reported to the minimum-security prison camp in Marion, Ill.
Under China's Watch, Macau Won't Return to 'Gangster's Paradise'
(Reuters) - Three murders, hammer-wielding heavies, and a high-profile police swoop have raised concerns that Macau, the world's casino capital, may be backsliding to the bad old days of the late-1990s. And that's even before ex-triad boss "Broken Tooth" ends a 15-year jail sentence in December.
All this at a time when China's economy, the world's second-biggest, is growing more slowly - hitting gambling revenue and possibly making junket operators, who collect gambling debts in exchange for commission from casinos, more aggressive.
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Allegedly Tied to Organized Crime Figure
Reuters was reporting late Sunday that the Las Vegas Sands had allowed a man identified by the US Senate as an “organized crime figure” to move US$100k in gambling credit from the Sheldon Adelson managed Sands to one of its Macau-based casinos.
Documentation of this alleged incident emerged in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former Sands employee who previously claimed prostitution was permitted on the Sands Macau property.
From Rueters:
Fired CFO of Philly Archdiocese gets 2-7 Years in $900k Theft for Gambling Addiction
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A finance executive who linked her $900,000 embezzlement from the Philadelphia archdiocese to the church’s sex-abuse scandal was sentenced Friday to two to seven years in prison.
Anita Guzzardi, 42, said she succumbed to gambling and shopping addictions after feeling betrayed by the church over the priest sex-abuse scandal.Guzzardi had worked at the Roman Catholic archdiocese since she was 20, and was making $124,000 a year as chief financial officer when she was fired last year.
Disgraced Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano Turns to Poker to Pay for $25k Theft
Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano wants to repay $25,000 he stole from his department through the sale of wood carved poker chip trays.
Solano, 48, plead guilty last year to five counts of felony fraud in connection with the illegal sale of county property that included bullet proof vests and gun holsters. He served six weeks in jail.
"I'm trying to just do everything right and pay back the restitution that is required of me," Solano told the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper. "I'm trying to go back to some sense of normalcy with my family, life and everything."
New Leads in Brutal Murder of Wealthy Gambler’s Wife
A grand jury has revealed that new leads have come out in an investigation of the brutal beating death of Julie Mitchell, 34, the wife of a wealthy Oklahoma City gambler.
Grand jurors reported they are “optimistic that this case will ultimately be solved.”
Swedish Poker Pros Held at Gunpoint in Casino Cosmopol: Others Extorted, Murdered
A number of Sweden’s most prominent poker pros have become victims of extortion plots, armed robbery and even murder.
PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Could See Charges Dropped in Wake of Poker Ruling
Following a New York federal judge ruling proclaiming poker as a “game of skill” and not “gambling” under current federal legislation, there is talk that charges against PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg could soon be dropped.
Scheinberg founded what is today the world’s largest “real money” online poker room the very day the World Trade Centers were under attack in New York City, September 11, 2011.
Surgeon Thought he Would be “Mowed Down With a Machine Gun” During Poker Game Raid
A prominent surgeon testified in court on Tuesday that he believed a robbery was about to take place during a high stakes poker game in Chattanooga, Tennessee last April when in fact police had commenced a raid on the property.
Dr. Neil Spitalyn said he feared being “mowed down with a machine gun”.
“It sounded like the front of the building had collapsed," he added.
Spitalyn claims he hid behind a garbage can before police came over and handcuffed him. Another officer shot one of the card players.
Will Julian Assange Be Arrested by British Police: Latest Betting Odds (Video)
Intrade.com has just released a new market over the weekend on whether Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be arrested by British police following word that the nation of Ecuador has granted the controversial activist/publisher political asylum in its London embassy.
Software Developer Executives Arrested in Connection with ‘Online Gambling Scheme’
Several executives from a Fort Worth, Texas software development company have been arrested Friday and charged with money laundering, felony gambling and organized criminal activity.
The company, HEST Technologies, claims to develop promotional systems for sweepstakes cafes, Internet cafes and nonprofit organizations.
Authorities allege the company's "sweepstakes" systems constitute illegal gambling devices by claiming to sell a lawful service as a means to induce people into gambling.
Howard Lederer Parties it Up in Las Vegas as DOJ Now ‘Flush With Full Tilt Poker Money’
Wendeen H. Eolis of Poker Player Newspaper was the first to reveal that great news was on tap for those owed monies by Full Tilt Poker. She’s proven to be an excellent resource for the poker community.
On Thursday, Ms. Eolis reveals that the “face behind Full Tilt Poker” over the past several years, Howard Lederer, was seen partying it up in Las Vegas after the deal was made official.
Police on Hunt for Londonderry Armed Robber Who Entered Bookmaker Brandishing Baton
Police in Londonderry want the public’s assistance in finding an armed robber who reportedly entered a Blucher Street area bookmaker brandishing a baton.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Shortly after 5.40pm a man, carrying a baton entered the premises and demanded money from a member of staff.
“The man smashed a number of television screens in the premises before making off empty handed. No-one was injured during the incident. The man is described as being approximately 5’8” tall and wearing a black jacket and blue jeans.
Montana Man Charged With Running Internet Gambling Website
BILLINGS, Mont. (Associated Press) A man with a 2003 conviction for running an illegal bookmaking business out of a Billings card room is now charged with helping people access an illegal Internet gambling site.
The Billings Gazette reports John Fischer pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of operating an illegal gambling enterprise.
Former Mobster Claims Gambino Crime Family Ties to Jerry Sandusky, Other Child Porn Deviants
A one time child associate of the Mob claims that sick photos depicting child sexual encounters with older men were once developed at a photo studio used as a front by the Gambino Crime Family.
Book on Absolute Poker to be Written by Ben Mezrich (Video)
Appearing on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box” Wednesday, author Ben Mezrich revealed he is writing a book about Absolute Poker, an online poker site caught up in a series of indictments last year.
The author of “Bringing Down The House” and “The Accidental Billionaires” sure will have plenty of material to work with. In addition to last year’s indictments that resulted in the ultimate shutdown of Absolute Poker and its sister site, UB.com, the online poker room was once embroiled in an “insider cheating scandal” that would later be profiled by the CBS news magazine show “60 Minutes”.
Nevada Regulators Investigating Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Corp re Bribery Charges
Nevada gaming regulators are reportedly looking into whether Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp broke stringent bribery laws through its dealings in the Asian gambling Mecca of Macau.
High Stakes Poker Playing Monks Fined Two Million Won
SEOUL — (AFP) - A South Korean court said Friday it has fined two Buddhist monks for illegal gambling, after video footage of their high-stakes poker game sparked a scandal in religious circles.
The Seoul Central District Court Thursday fined the monks from the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist order, two million won ($1,775) each.
"The court only ordered fines because they showed remorse for what they had done," a court spokeswoman told AFP.
Clinkville: Facebook Online Poker Players Ask for Leniency, Face 7 Months in Prison
11 poker players in Jakarta, Indonesia have been charged with playing online poker via Facebook, with each facing up to 7 months behind bars for their crime.
Online chips were transferred during the commission of the crime. The chips are deemed to be “virtual cash” since Facebook does not permit real money gambling in Indonesia.
The seven poker players were identified as: Kesuma Wijaya Sidauruk; M Nasir, aka Aldo; Eman, aka Liang Sun; Hendry, aka A Hen; Haris Pratama Putra; A Seng, aka M. Ikhsan; and M. Zulfikar.
Former Philadelphia Mayor's Daughter, 15 Others Charged with Running Massive Bookie Biz
Federal prosecutors claim to have broken up a massive bookmaking business based in suburban Philadelphia that spanned beyond state borders into New Jersey, Florida and Costa Rica.
Philadelphia Mob ‘Capo’ Pleads Guilty: Won’t Turn Rat in Joseph Ligambi Trial
A Philadelphia Mob lieutenant, Martin “Marty” Angelina, 50, has plead guilty to racketeering but has refused to cooperate in the fall trial of alleged crime family boss Joseph Ligambi.
Angelina admitted to operating illegal poker machines at the First Ward Republican Club in South Philadelphia and using extortionist tactics to collect a $6700 debt. He faces up to five years in prison as part of the plea deal.
Connecticut Bookie Pleads Guilty to Alleged Mob Connected Website 44Wager.com
A New Haven bookie, Michael Pepe, 33, has plead guilty in a federal court Monday to two counts of operating an illegal online sports betting business with alleged ties to the Gambino crime family.
Imprisoned Poker Pro Ernie Scherer III Beats UFC On Fox 4 With 48 Hours Mystery Repeat
The re-airing of a “48 Hours Mystery” episode on the Ernie Scherer III bludgeoning of his parents in 2008 managed to beat “UFC On Fox 4” in the Saturday night ratings.
Macau Raids Casinos After Deadly Attacks on Guests
Macau police in operation with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities raided a number of casinos and hotels during the late night and early morning hours of August 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) in what is being codenamed “Operation Thunderbolt”.
The raid follows a series of murders and attacks targeting tourists. 1300 people have been questioned and 150 of those detained as a result of the investigation.
48 Hours Mystery Profiles Ernie Scherer III Murder Case Saturday Night
A repeat of the “48 Hours Mystery” story on poker player Ernie Scherer III murder case airs Saturday evening (August 3, 2012) at 10 pm EDT on CBS.
Scherer III was sentenced for brutally murdering his parents in their Alameda, California home in 2008 in order to obtain an inheritance. The younger Scherer was said to have owed significant gambling debts.
