Crime
Law Firm Talks Violation of Poker Pro Paul Phua Rights as Part of FBI Ruse
In a case testing the boundaries of how far the government can go when creating a ruse to access a suspect’s premises, a U.S. District Court in Nevada concluded that the government’s disruption of internet service to a hotel room in order to generate a service call, and allow access by government agents, violated the Fourth Amendment rights of the hotel guest.
First New England Mobster Sentenced to Life for ‘3 Strikes’ Rule Dies at 75
Notorious New England mobster Gerard "The Frenchman" Ouimette has died of lung cancer at the age of 75.
Evidence Ordered Thrown Out in Phua FBI Ruse Case
A federal judge has ordered most of the evidence against poker pro Paul Phua thrown out as part of an FBI probe that apparently went a little too far.
Phua and other alleged co-conspirators were said to have been running a World Cup betting ring from their villa at the Caesar’s Palace. FBI agents posed as cable repairmen to gain access.
Mobster Tried to Sell Art from 1990 Museum Heist
HARTFORD, Conn. (Associated Press) -- A reputed mobster told an undercover FBI agent that he had access to two of the long-sought paintings stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 and could negotiate a sale of each for $500,000, a prosecutor said Monday.
Robert Gentile, a 79-year-old convict from the Hartford, Connecticut, suburbs with a criminal record dating to the 1950s, allegedly made the offer following his release from prison a year ago, prosecutor John Durham said.
Chinese Authorities Shut Down PokerStars Sponsored Tournament
In their continued crackdown on gambling, Chinese authorities shut down a poker tournament sponsored by the world’s largest real money online poker site PokerStars this weekend.
The APPT tournament, which was set to take place in the city of Nanjing, underwent a raid by the Chinese National Police on Friday.
NatWest Manager Jailed for Stealing £185,000 to Fund Online Gambling Habit
A former NetWest manager, Glenn Mason, 56, has been jailed for plundering the accounts of nine pensioners including an 83 year-old woman and a 92 year-old man, all to the tune of £185,000.
Mason stole the funds in order to help fuel his online gambling habit. He now must pay back every last penny.
Mason will serve 15 months behind bars.
Trial of Legendz Sports Founder Bartice “Luke” King Gets Underway
The trial of Legendz Sports founder Bartice King (better known as “Luke” among his peers) got underway Thursday in an Oklahoma City courtroom following two days of jury selection. The case number is CR-13-063-1-F, listed on the local courtroom docket as USA vs. Bartice A. "Luke" King.
Global Sports Betting Worth $3 Trillion, Most of it Illegal
(AFP) - The global sports betting market is worth up to $3-trillion, the vast majority of that generated by illegal gambling, a United Nations conference on crime being held in Doha heard on Wednesday.
Patrick Jay, a British-based independent betting expert, said around 65 per cent of that global figure was spent on football betting, with the Asian market the centre of sports gambling.
Guilty Pleas Entered in Illegal Vegas Sports Betting Case: $4.3 Mil to be Forfeited
Four individuals have struck deals with the U.S. Government to plead guilty in a long running investigation into a multi-million dollar sports betting business.
‘Honey Trap’ Gang Kicked Professional Poker Player to Death
Care assistant Leonie Granger, 25, has been convicted of manslaughter in the brutal murder of a professional poker player.
Granger set up a “honey trap” for 56-year-old Mehmet Hassan, who was kicked to death by her boyfriend, Kyrron Jackson, 28, and another man, Nicholas Chandler, 29.
666Bet.com Back Peddling on Payout Promise: ‘We Can Only Pay When Back Online’
Beleaguered 666Bet.com issued a statement on Tuesday informing its customers they can only pay if back up and running online. This comes after assurances the company would refund customers once its licensing authority gives the green light.
Bookie Forced Man to Rob Churches
Attorneys representing Joseph Grieco, 45, of Methuen, Massachusetts have notified a judge about the possible defense for their client, accused of scamming several area churches out of cash and gift cards. His bookie made him do it!
From the Union Leader:
Motorcycle Shooting of Sportsbook Operator Outside CR Bakery Was Failed Hit
A man shot four times outside an Escazu, Costa Rica bakery last month was the target of a failed hit, Gambling911.com can now confirm.
Sources close to G911 tell us that a sportsbook operator from California by the name of Jason was the target of this hit though the incident does not appear to have any ties to a bookmaking/Pay Per Head businesses had ties to.
Suspected ‘Juice Bar Burglar’ Arrested in Underground Gambling Den
A man suspected in a San Fernando Valley, California crime spree was taken into custody over the weekend inside a local gambling den.
Authorities were able to identify the so-called “Juice Bar Burglar” by a distinctive tattoo.
“His tattoo was his undoing,” LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said in a statement. “We just needed to get the word and the picture out, and he was done as the Juice Bar Burglar.”
Per CBS LA’s report:
Bookmaker Ordered to Serve an Additional Four Month Sentence
FARGO, N.D. – (Associated Press) - A judge says a 69-year-old man convicted of running an illegal bookmaking operation in North Dakota must serve an additional four months in prison on top of a current sentence he is serving in Minnesota.
FBI Probe San Francisco Sheriff’s Deputies for Gambling on Fights Between Inmates
SAN FRANCISCO — (Associated Press) - The FBI is investigating allegations that San Francisco sheriff’s deputies arranged and gambled on fights between jail inmates and told the inmates to lie if they needed medical attention.
Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi announced the independent probe Friday, and a representative from the FBI confirmed the investigation in an email to The Associated Press. The department’s internal affairs unit and the U.S. Department of Justice are investigating as well.
Retired NYPD Sergeant Convicted of Running Illegal Poker Games
A retired NYPD sergeant, Ralph Mastrantonio, 55, has been convicted of running illegal poker games in Staten Island, New York and faces up to five years behind bars.
Sports Tout Adam Meyer Sees Bail Revoked: Accused of Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man charged with running an elaborate sports handicapping fraud scheme has had his bail revoked by a judge.
Adam Meyer, 43, was arrested last October for trying to extort $25 million from a Wisconsin businessman.
Shooting at Las Vegas M Resort Casino Leaves One Man Dead
A self-inflicted gun wound has left one man dead at the Las Vegas M Resort Casino.
The incident occurred at 4:50 pm Sunday near the casino’s buffet.
Police said one adult who fell while escaping the scene was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Another person was checked out on scene. A car fire in the casino garage at the exact time of the shooting was also being investigated.
Aaron Hernandez Defense Seems To Be: Nothing….
Ask anyone outside of New England, and they’re pretty sure Aaron Hernandez “did it.” Convicted in the media long before he ever had his day in court, the former NFL star’s legal team seems to have just shifted to an interesting tactic in trying to get their client off. Nothing.
Chairs Go Flying as Dozens Brawl at Resorts World Casino in Queens (Shock Video)
A melee involving dozens of casino patrons turned into an epic brawl at the Resorts World Casino at the Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York, all of which was caught on cell phone videos.
The incident occurred at the opening of a Fat Tuesday daiquiri bar within the establishment and quickly escalated into the neighboring food court.
Did Mobsters Really Beat Down Harry Reid
An accident using an exercise machine, such was the explanation provided to the public for Senator Harry Reid’s (D-Nevada) injured eye.
666Bet.com Director Arrested as Part of Fraud Probe: Site Goes Offline
Paul Bell, a director of 666Bet, has been arrested as part of a joint money-laundering investigation by HM Revenue & Customs and the National Crime Agency.
The initial arrest occurred last week at London’s Heathrow Airport. Bell was re-arrested on the Isle of Man upon landing in his private jet.
While the firm’s license has now been suspended and the site remains offline, a spokesperson insists the probe had nothing to do with 666Bet.com.
Another Suspect Pleads Guilty in 44Wager.com Bookmaking Case
Salvatore Ferraioli, 33, of Staten Island, NY, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Hartford federal court to a federal tax charge stemming from his involvement in a sports betting ring with ties to Costa Rica.
University of Toledo Athletes Get Probation in Point Shaving Scheme
DETROIT (Associated Press) - Two former University of Toledo basketball players have been placed on probation for their role in shaving points for gamblers who bet on games a decade ago.
Sammy Villegas and Anton Currie were sentenced Tuesday in Detroit federal court. They're the first of seven former Rockets who will be sentenced this spring, including three ex-football players.
Bookie Tied to Hockey Player Thomas Vanek Lawyer: ‘NHL Should Investigate Itself’
The lawyer for a long time Rochester, New York area bookie, Paul Borrelli, tells local media the National Hockey League (NHL) may want to investigate itself in light of one player’s ties to his client.
Professional Poker Player, Former Broker Charged With Embezzlement
A professional poker player has been charged with embezzling client funds for the sole purpose of playing online poker, casino gambling and buying football game tickets.
Federal Judge to Decide Fate of Poker Pro Paul Phua in FBI Ruse Case
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) -- A federal judge in Las Vegas could decide the fate of an illegal gambling case against a wealthy Malaysian businessman who says the FBI violated his rights by posing as Internet repairmen to get into his hotel room during the FIFA World Cup last summer.
Defense attorneys for Wei Seng "Paul" Phua want U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon on Monday to accept a magistrate judge's recommendation to throw out evidence obtained by deceiving a judge who issued a search warrant.
Easy Bet Owner Will Likely Pull Through Following Brazen Assassination Attempt
The California-born owner of a Pay Per Head business in Costa Rica identified only as Jason F. is expected to pull through according to sources close to Gambling911.com.
The individual was shot four times as he left an Escazu bakery near the La Paco shopping center Wednesday morning and attempted to get into his red Range Rover (pictured). Two men pulled up on motorcycles and fired the shots. Authorities are still investigating.
Japan’s Tax Agency, Hong Kong Join FBI in Scrutinizing Universal Casino Payments
(Reuters) - Japan’s tax authorities have begun a review of how slot machine maker and casino developer Universal Entertainment accounted for $40 million in payments made in 2010 to an associate of the Philippines’ top gambling regulator at that time, sources told Reuters.
Separately, the payments are also a focus of a previously undisclosed criminal investigation by Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, sources said. The ICAC has become involved because the transfers under review passed through bank accounts based in Hong Kong, those people said.
