Crime
Jared Fogle Future Betting Off Limits But NFL Player Arrests Wagers are Available
Many folks have been inquiring as to when online gambling sites intend to begin offering betting odds on Jared Fogle, the longtime former Subway spokesperson who plead guilty Wednesday to charges of distributing child pornography and illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
China Arrests 15,000 on Suspicion of Cybercrimes, Including Gambling
BEIJING (Associated Press) — Chinese police have arrested 15,000 people on suspicion of cybercrimes as the government tightens its control over the Internet, the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday.
Mob Rat Turns Dog Trainer for Disabled Vets
Mob rat Salvatore (Sammy Bull) Gravano, now serving 20 years in prison on a drug conviction, is attempting to get his sentenced reduced by training dogs for disabled vets.
The former Gambino underboss, now 70, had his attorney Thomas Farinella present papers in Brooklyn Federal Court to demonstrate the good work he has done while in prison.
Man Admits Bringing Counterfeit Chips to Casino Then Flushing Them Down Toilet
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — (Associated Press) - A man admitted Thursday that he brought millions of dollars in counterfeit poker chips to use in a casino's poker tournament, a scheme that was uncovered when he clogged a pipe by flushing the chips down the toilet in his hotel room.
Phil Mickelson, Billy Walters ‘Insider Trading’ Probe Continues
An FBI and SEC investigation is ongoing as to whether golfer Phil Mickelson received insider trading tips from Nevada-based professional sports bettor Billy Walters.
DeCavalcante Crime Family Boss John Riggi Dies: Was Not Inspiration for ‘Sopranos’
The one time crime boss of a family once believed to have inspired the hit series “The Sopranos” has passed away at the age of 90.
John Riggi of Edison, New Jersey was confirmed dead by the Corsentino Home for Funerals in Elizabeth, N.J. at the age of 90.
Riggi had served 20 years for racketeering with additional terms tacked on for complicity in contract killings. He was released in 2012.
Michigan Mafia to Blame for State Rep’s Sex With Gay Prostitute Scandal
Michigan State Representative Todd Courser (R-Lapeer) is blaming the East Lansing Mafia for trying to blackmail him because of his political beliefs.
“I see this as the way the establishment machine gets everyone to do what they are told to do and have no one question their authority,” says Courser.
Son-In-Law of Late Mobster John Gotti Indicted on Charges of Racketeering
The son-in-law of late Mob kingpin John Gotti was formerly indicted over the weekend for his alleged role in a $4.2 million scrap metal processing fraud.
Ring Leaders in Violent California Sports Betting Ring Sentenced: Got Off Light
Two brothers, both of whom were ring leaders of a violent California-based illegal sports betting ring, have been sentenced to less than two years in prison and each must pay a fine of $50,000. Each had been facing up to 20 years prison time.
Erik Portocarrero, 44, and his brother, Jan Harald Portocarrero, 42, ran Macho Sports out of both California and the South American nation of Peru.
Donald Trump and the Mob: His Ties are Extensive According to Report
Last week, Chris Frates, CNN Investigative Correspondent, published an intriguing report on real estate mogul and GOP Presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s dealings with the Mob.
Trump's alleged ties to New York and Philadelphia crime families go back decades and have been recounted in a book, newspapers and government records, Frates notes.
Gambler Drops Cocaine on Casino Floor: Gets $300 Fine
A gambler in Australia charged with dropping 0.34 grams of cocaine on a table while gambling plead guilty and received a $300 fine.
The Australian Broadcast Corporation reported that the drugs fells out of his wallet when he was grabbing money to place a bet.
He continued to try to gamble, shrugging off the incident and telling police the cocaine was “just a few party drugs for tonight”.
Gambling Kingpin Wang Bo Deported Back to China
The Philippines Bureau of Immigration on Thursday confirmed the deportation of Chinese gambling lord Wang Bo.
BI Spokesperson Elaine Tan said that Wang was escorted by four Chinese nationals and boarded a flight back to Guangzhou, China on Thursday at 9 am.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued the summary deportation (SDO) order for Wang last March.
Baaaaaad Boys: Mafia Figures ‘Sheep’ Code Broken by Authorities
(Reuters) - Police in Sicily arrested 11 suspected mobsters they believe were helping Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro evade capture and spread his orders to the rest of the criminal organisation - via handwritten notes.
The suspects used coded language to communicate with the highest-ranking Sicilian mob boss currently at large, police said in a statement.
Malta Suspends Nine Online Gambling Licenses in Wake of Mafia Scandal
One of the largest online gambling jurisdictions, Malta, has come under extreme scrutiny in recent days following news that a former prime minister’s son had ties to the Italian mafia, more specifically he ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
Last week, Italian authorities €2bn (£1.4bn, $2.2bn) of assets that belonged to the organization.
BetOnSports Founder Must Pay $36 Mil in Back Taxes: Loses Appeal
ST. LOUIS (Associated Press) - A federal appeals court has rejected attempts by the founder of a former online betting site to avoid paying $36 million in delinquent taxes and penalties, dismissing claims that his plea deal in a related criminal case precluded the government from pursuing the debt.
Investigators Under Investigation in Criminal Casino Case
BOSTON (Associated Press) - A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday over allegations that private investigators working for Wynn Resorts gained unauthorized access to files in a joint state and federal criminal probe that now figures into Massachusetts's biggest casino project.
U.S. District Court Magistrate Marianne Bowler took the arguments under advisement and is expected to decide whether to hold a hearing on the allegations as requested by defense lawyers for former owners of the waterfront property where Wynn wants to develop a $1.7 billion casino.
‘Frankie The Flea’, ‘The Worm’ and Other BetEagle Agents Lead to Owner’s Sentencing
The owner of long established Costa Rica-based online and call center bookmaker BetEagle.com has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars by a U.S. District Court judge.
High Stakes Gamblers Were Allowed to Abuse Dealers, Throw Bananas, Urinate on Walls
Transcripts of a May hearing before the Mohegan Sun tribal gaming commission reveal that high rollers were allowed to abuse dealers, urinate on walls, throw bananas at fellow gamblers and expect rules to be bent at the tables.
Notorious Philly Mobster’s Son Sentenced to 30 Years in Racketeering Conspiracy
The son of notorious Philadelphia mobster Nicodemo Scarfo has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for racketeering.
Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. is accused of stealing $12 million from shareholders of a publicly traded Texas financial firm.
The younger Scarfo allegedly used false SEC filings and made threats to cause economic harm as a form of shaking down existing company management. His father was sentenced to 55 years for a similar crime.
Whitey Bulger Attorney Wants Racketeering Conviction Overturned
BOSTON – (Associated Press) - Lawyers for a Boston gangster have asked an appeals court to overturn his racketeering conviction, saying his trial was unfair.
One of James "Whitey" Bulger's lawyers argued Monday before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Bulger's right to a fair trial was violated when he was barred from testifying about his claim that he received immunity from a federal prosecutor.
He also argued that prosecutors didn't turn over information about certain details of an agreement he says they had with a hit man who was a key witness against Bulger.
Affective and RevenueJet Affiliate Owners Indicted for Fraud
Two Israeli online gambling operators indicted for money laundering, fraud and identity theft ran two of the more lucrative affiliate programs tied to numerous online casino brands.
Israeli Men Tied to JP Morgan Hacking Involved in Online Gambling
The Israeli online gambling sector, long prominent and pioneering, took a major hit this week when it was revealed that hackers from that nation had ties to Web gambling.
An indictment was filed in New York against Israeli citizens Gery Shalon, 31, and Ziv Orenstein, 40. Charges include money laundering, identity theft and fraud.
Both men are accused in the brazen 2014 database hacking of U.S. based bank JP Morgan.
Italy Seizes Assets Worth $2.95 Billion Belonging to the Mafia
Italian police have seized assets worth up to $2.95 billion said to belong to organized crime in the latest sting against The 'Ndrangheta.
Italy’s most powerful crime syndicate controls much of Europe’s cocaine trade, more than 1500 betting shops, 82 online gambling sites and some 60 other companies engaging in so-called “sin industries”. Profits from the trade, which is worth billions, were laundered through the gambling empire.
China Feared Sheldon Adelson Casinos Used by CIA to Snare Officials
A report, uncovered by the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests the CIA was using Macau casinos, including those owned by billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, to entrap Chinese officials who may have been gambling with public money.
Michael Sam Splits With Mobbed Up Fiancé: Now on the Prowl in Hollywood
The NFL’s first openly gay player, Michael Sam, has broken up with his long time boyfriend, Vito Cammisano.
Cincinnati Horseshoe Casino Employees Indicted for Cheating
Three former casino workers at the Cincinnati Horseshoe were indicted this past week for alleged cheating.
Michigan Appeals Court Affirms Convictions of Siblings Accused of Cheating Casino
Detroit — (Associated Press) - The ball landed on 14 for a big winning bet. But the court case? Snake eyes.
The Michigan appeals court has affirmed the convictions of a brother and sister who were accused of cheating at roulette at the Motor City Casino in Detroit.
James Countryman was working as a dealer in 2012 when his sister, India Countryman, suddenly won $4,700. But investigators said surveillance video shows her bet was placed after the ball landed on red 14.
The siblings denied any wrongdoing.
Judge Keeps Legal Doc Sealed in Case That May Tie Sands Corp to Organized Crime
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — A Nevada judge is keeping sealed a legal exhibit that a newspaper, a union and a Washington, DC-based advocacy group sought to make public in a closely-watched wrongful termination case against casino company Las Vegas Sands Corp., Sands China Ltd. and the companies' chairman Sheldon Adelson.
Guardian News & Media, the Campaign for Accountability and union Unite Here argued Thursday the public should see the exhibit the groups say may tie the companies to organized crime in Asia.
Avoiding Legal Trouble with Pay Per Head Solutions
Sports betting in the United States is a billion dollar industry, but other than in the state of Nevada it also has some serious legal challenges especially when it comes to the actual financial transactions in the act of taking bets.
John Gotti Former Son-In-Law Arrested for Alleged ‘Large-Scale’ Car Theft
The former son-in-law of the late crime boss John Gotti has been taken into police custody for running an alleged “large-scale” car theft ring.
