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We received the call a little over two years ago. The tipster told Gambling911.com that BetOnLinec.com was "under investigation" and that "we should report this".
The individual calling us claimed to have been a partner with Joseph Fafone, who on Tuesday was arrested at the Rochester, New York Airport as part of a Queens District Attorney's investigation into BetOnLine.
"I am working with the Feds," said the tipster. "I have to. My life is in danger."
It pretty much went completely downhill from there in terms of the tipster's credibility.
Yes, we knew he was involved with BetOnLine before. In the past, this same individual had called us pretending to be a mobster associated with the online bookmaker, insisting that an article be removed.
What capacity he worked in was not immediately known from the rambling phone call. But his story grew more bizarre by the minute.
"I need to protect my family," he said. "Joe Jr. is trying to kill me. He has sent people to kill me. They are so brazen he had guys chase me with guns through JFK Airport."
We had a tough time believing Joe had sent anyone after this individual. The JFK Airport "gun story" had us scratching our heads even more. Somebody may have been watching a few too much Sopranos.
Then came this little ditty: "Joe's partner at BetOnLine is with the CIA!"
While the story seemed crazy at the time, there was always a fear that BetOnLine had been mixing with loons, some of whom might easily turn informants with the tip of a hat. The individual in question apparently did just that. His declaration that he was essentially helping in an investigation seemed the only believable part of his nearly 15 minutes of rambling.
