Crime
Spiderman Toby Maguire Victims Recover Out of Court in High Stakes Poker Ponzi Scheme
Toby Maguire, who is best known for his role of Spiderman in that comic strip film franchise, has fully settled with victims in a highly publicized ponzi scheme involving Hollywood underground high stakes poker games.
Devilfish Poker Emailing Customers of Now Defunct Purple Lounge: Sale Possible?
CardPlayer.com was reporting that customers of now shuttered Purple Lounge have been in receipt of emails from rival Devilfish Poker.
The two emails sent out feature no content other than the header “Devilfish Poker Welcomes Purple Lounge Player”.
Operation Tran Wreck: Vietnamese Blackjack Cheat Van Thu Tran Profiled on ‘American Greed’
CNBC’s “American Greed” will be airing a segment on Vietnamese Blackjack cheater Van Thu Tran and her gang including husband Phuong Truong.
Joran van der Sloot to Fight Extradition to the United States
Confessed murderer Joran van der Sloot told a Peruvian judge on Wednesday he would fight extradition to the United States. Van der Sloot is currently serving a 28-year sentence in the notorious Castro Castro prison in Lima, Peru for the murder of college student Stephany Flores after the two met in a local casino. Van der Sloot had been in attendance at the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT), following the event throughout South America.
Police: No suspects yet in Churchill Downs slaying
LOUISVILLE, KY. — (Associated Press) - Detectives have no suspects in the slaying of a track worker at Churchill Downs just hours after the Kentucky Derby, but investigators stressed Monday that the killing had no apparent connection to the iconic horse race.
Louisville Police Lt. Barry Wilkerson said investigators are asking witnesses to come forward with information in the slaying of 48-year-old Adan Fabian Perez. Perez’s body was found Sunday morning in the back portion of Barn No. 8, just a few barns away from where Derby winner I’ll Have Another was stabled.
Body of Slain Man Found at Churchill Downs Identified as Trainer Cecil Borel Employee
Police have identified the murdered man whose body was discovered in a Churchill Downs stable just hours after the Kentucky Derby as Adan Fabian Perez, a 48-year-old from Guatemala. He was found four barns away from winning Derby horse “I’ll Have Another”.
Perez worked for horse trainer Cecil Borel, who is the brother of veteran jockie Calvin Borel. He began working for Borel in 2008 as a horse groomer.
Former Star Quarterback, Gambling Addict Art Schlichter Sentenced to 10 Years
One time Ohio State University football star Art Schlichter has been sentenced to 10 years, seven months in prison for fleecing more than 50 people out of millions of dollars in a sports-ticket scheme. Schlichter, 52, was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2.2 million.
Dead Body Found Near Stable of Winning Kentucky Derby Horse I’ll Have Another Stable
The body of an unidentified Hispanic man found Sunday morning in a stable at Churchill Downs was being treated as a homicide, police investigators told the press. The cause of death would be determined by the coroner, she said.
The discovery was made around 4:30 am in a barn close to where Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another was being kept. Barn eight had been cordoned off all morning.
TwoPlusTwo.com Poker Posting Forum to be Down Another Week At Least
The hacking into the popular TwoPlusTwo.com poker posting forum seems far more serious than anyone had previously believed as the site announced this week its forum would be down for the foreseeable future.
Originally the site had expected to be up by the first week in May but now they are shooting for the second week of the month.
Update May 1st
Purple Lounge Online Poker, Casino Abrupt Weekend Closure Follows Salacious Florida Arrest
No word yet on the reasons behind the abrupt closure of UK-based Purple Lounge, an online poker room and casino operated by Media Corporation (not to be confused with the Rupert Murdock publishing empire). Customers were not provided with any prior warning as to the shutdown. Players had experienced slow payouts in recent months despite Purple Lounge’s operation within a mostly Web poker-friendly environment. Purple Lounge had not accepted business from US players.
Two Alleged Mobsters Captured in Newark: Operated Illegal Gambling Business
Two alleged members of a Philadelphia organized crime syndicate have been arrested in Newark, New Jersey.
Joseph Licata, 70, of Florham Park, and Louis Fazzini, 45, of Caldwell, were apprehended on Thursday and charged with racketeering.
CyberSecurity Bill Passes in House: No Tack-on for Internet Poker
A controversial CyberSecurity bill has passed in the House despite a veto threat from the Obama administration. The bill does not contain any amendment pertaining to the legalization of Internet poker.
The Poker Players Alliance had hoped to attach legislation legalizing Web poker onto this bill.
Online Gambling Payment Processor to be Sentenced May 29th
Don Hellinger, who processed payments for a number of online gambling companies during the years 2005 and 2006 is scheduled for sentencing on May 29th on unrelated charges. It is not immediately known how long a sentence Hellinger will receive.
Hellinger was charged with the illegal distribution of over $40 million in Internet gambling winnings during the years 2005 and 2006 through a money transfer company, Payment Processing, Inc. His connection to online gambling only came about after a grand jury investigation into other alleged illicit activity.
No Further Charges Against Wayne Rooney Father Following Football Betting Scam Arrest
Wayne Rooney Senior will not faces further charges over allegations connected to a football betting scam.
The star footballer’s dad was arrested at his home in West Derby, Liverpool, last October along with eight others, including Liverpool-born Motherwell midfielder Steve Jennings, 26, for “suspicious betting activity”.
Disgraced Online Poker Payment Processor Turned Rat Daniel Tzvetkoff Found Hiding Out in NYC
Australian payment processing tycoon Daniel Tzvetkoff is said to be in a US witness protection program or was.
Tzvetkoff had been slated to be the star witness against defendants in the infamous US Justice Department crackdown on Internet poker rooms last April (2011).
Brent Beckley Sentencing Slated for Today (April 19): Headed Up Absolute Poker
One of the individuals caught up in a massive online poker probe last April was scheduled to be sentenced today (April 19, 2012) after pleading guilty to money laundering and bank fraud.
Brent Beckley was an executive and co-founder of the now shuttered online poker firm, Absolute Poker.
US Attorney Overseeing Online Poker Investigation Among Time’s Most Influential People
The man who is in charge of the investigation that took down three of the world’s largest online poker rooms last April 2011, US Attorney in the Southern District of New York, Preetinder S. Bharara, has been named among Time.com’s “Most Influential People”.
Caterer Who Pulled Gun on Police During Poker Raid Was Serving Up More Than Chow
Police on Wednesday released surveillance video taken from inside a Chattanooga, Tennessee catering hall that became the center of a high stakes poker raid and shooting.
The sting operation happened last week at ATC Healthcare on Gunbarrel Road.
Police Chief Bobby Dodd invited the media to review the video, however, no recording was permitted since the evidence was yet to be turned over to the prosecution or defense.
Catering Clifford Billups, 32, was shot by police after pulling out a gun while trying to escape.
Amarillo Slim Near Death: Brunson Insists his Friend was Not a Child Molester
As Amarillo Slim (real name Thomas Austin Preston, Jr.) lay in critical condition in a hospice preparing to die, fellow poker icon Doyle Brunson has found fit to defend his friend and allegations that he once molested a young girl.
“For the record, no way was he ever a child molester,” Brunson tweeted.
Judge Can Now Accept Misdemeanor Plea in Online Poker Case
A federal judge has confirmed he is prepared to accept a guilty plea from John Campos, one of the men indicted in April of 2011 for handling transactions on behalf of three online poker rooms including Full Tilt, PokerStars and Absolute Poker.
4th Arrest Made in Shooting Death at Brampton, Ontario Poker Tournament
A 4th individual has been arrested exactly one year after the shooting death of Kearn Nedd, 28, who was competing in a poker tournament at a Brampton, Ontario banquet hall.
Sid Rosenberg Fired Following DUI Arrest
Radio personality Sid Rosenberg has been fired following an arrest for DUI in Hollywood, Florida earlier in the month.
WQAM program director Lee Feldman confirmed to a local television station that the controversial host had been terminated.
Police Shoot Caterer During Raid on Poker Game: Poker Playing Doc Assists Wounded (Video)
Police shot a caterer who drew his weapon on an officer during a Thursday evening raid of a Chattanooga high stakes poker game.
An officer fired and hit Clifford Jamar Billups, 32, in the side. He was treated and released. Billups, who has an extensive criminal record, attempted to flee out a back door while the raid was in progress. He has since been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, felony reckless endangerment and illegal gambling and is due to appear in court on Thursday.
Vegas Priest Who Siphoned $650k to Support Video Poker Habit Will Begin Prison Term
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest from Las Vegas was due to surrender Friday at a federal prison in Texas to begin serving three years and one month for siphoning $650,000 from his northwest Las Vegas parish to support a video poker and casino gambling habit.
Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, 59, planned to turn himself in as required at the low-security La Tuna correctional institution in the Texas-New Mexico border town of Anthony, defense attorney Margaret Stanish told The Associated Press.
New York Underground Poker Clubs: Former Waitress Reveals ‘Turn Down the Cleavage’
If you haven’t read it already, the DailyBeast.com presented an excellent account from a former waitress as to the inner workings of New York’s notorious underground poker rooms.
Underground poker rooms are venues not operating in accordance with state gaming laws that typically do not profit from the actual poker games but rather blackjack or craps played on the side.
Sources: UB.com, Absolute Poker Resolution With US Justice Dept. Close to Finalized
PocketFives.com on Thursday reported that UB.com and its sister online poker site, AbsolutePoker.com, are close to finalizing a resolution with the US Justice Department that could see affected customers paid, at least partially.
Sid Rosenberg Found Drunk Behind Wheel in Fetal Position
Back in February Gambling911.com reported on how South Florida sports radio host Sid Rosenberg was accused of owing an offshore sportsbook $44,000. Now comes word of Rosenberg’s arrest for DUI last week.
US Owes Antigua $120 Million in Damages Over WTO Online Gambling Dispute
In 2007 The World Trade Organization (WTO) demanded the United States government pay restitution to the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua after the later won a judgment against Uncle Sam. Antigua essentially accused the USA back then of protectionism and engaging in unfair competitive practices as it pertained to the Caribbean nation’s role in regulating what is now a multi-billion dollar online gambling industry.
Maryland Now Allows Gambling on Fantasy Sports: Life Behind Bars for Booking NFL Games
As Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre, 50, faces more than 25 years behind prison for running one of the largest online sports betting enterprises and targeting residents of Maryland, that state has just begun allowing wagers on fantasy sports. Exceptional timing!!! We can't make this stuff up even if we tried.
Full Tilt Poker CEO Raymond Bitar Facing Prison Term 260 Times That of a Statutory Rapist
Some might be thinking, if Roman Polanski could evade US law enforcement for more than 30 years after being charged with raping a minor, surely the head man at Full Tilt Poker should have no problem remaining on the lam just as long. Bitar, after all, is not a rapist. He's simply a poker player who just happened to be running one of the largest online poker rooms in the world, and he made loads of money doing so.
