Crime
Mobster Gets More Than 9 Year Sentence for Pot Distribution
Though his lawyer argued the drug is mainstream, mobster Salvatore Larca has been sentenced to 9.5 years behind bars for running an illegal marijuana distribution business.
The reputed Genovese crime family member admitted to running the operation from the Bronx, New York.
Cantor Could Pay Over $2 Million in Damages Resulting From Colbert Indictment
Cantor Gaming, which changed its name to CG Technologies this week, has agreed to pay over $2 million under a tentative settlement reached over the weekend with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Openings Set to Start in Mob Financial Fraud Case
CAMDEN — (Associated Press) - Federal prosecutors will start making their case to jurors that a group of Philadelphia and southern New Jersey mobsters pulled off a white-collar financial fraud scheme.
The trial of Nicodemo Scarfo and six other defendants is scheduled to start Wednesday. Prosecutors say the defendants used threats to take over a mortgage company and then kept the firm’s assets for themselves.
Morgan Stanley Employee Gambled Away Millions of Bank’s Funds, Strangled Wife
A former product controller at Morgan Stanley was terminated by the company after losing millions of dollars due to an “accounting error”. Investigators also believe Manas Kapoor, 35, strangled his wife to death the same day he was to attend a disciplinary hearing.
Kapoor admitted he was £8,000 in debt and was borrowing from friends and family to support his gambling addiction.
Three UTEP Men’s Basketball Players Ousted For Betting on Games
The leading scorer for the University of Texas men’s basketball team, McKenzie Moore, has been kicked out of the program along with two other reserves after they were discovered betting on sporting events. The school emphasized that there is so far no evidence of point shaving or betting on Miners games.
Nevada Gaming Control Board Files 18-Page Complaint Against Cantor Gaming
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGC) has filed an 18-page complaint against Cantor Gaming following a lengthy investigation. A former director of the company was indicted by US law enforcement in late 2012 for his role in an illegal sports betting venture and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy this past summer. Read Complaint Here
Former NFL Player Donald Caldwell Charged With Bookmaking
TAMPA, Fla. – (Associated Press) - Former NFL and University of Florida player Donald “Reche” Caldwell has been arrested by Tampa police on charges of operating an illegal gambling house and bookmaking.
Police say Caldwell was one of three leaders of the operation. Five other men are facing a variety of charges including probation violations, possession of a controlled substance and illegal gambling.
You’ve Read the Rest…Now Get the Real Best of 2013 in Gambling
So all the websites have come out with their annual “Best of in Online Gambling” looking back at the eventful year of 2013.
‘Sopranos’ Star Tied to Cop’s Murder to be Set Free
“Sopranos” actor Lillo Brancato will be a free man Tuesday (December 31, 2013) after serving less than 10 years for a botched robbery that led to the murder of NYPD cop Daniel Enchautegui.
The 28-year-old officer was fatally shot in the chest on December 10, 2005 upon arriving at the burglary-in-progress at his neighbor’s home.
Atlantic City Murder Rate Lowest in 30 Years: Still Ranked Among Most Dangerous
Only three people were murdered in the New Jersey seaside gambling resort of Atlantic City in 2013 with just two more days to go. That’s a steep drop from the 18 murders last year.
Laundered Money From Illegal Gambling Used for NC Campaign Contributions
(Associated Press) - A checking account used last year to make $235,000 in donations to the campaigns of dozens of North Carolina politicians contained the laundered proceeds of a criminal gambling enterprise, according to Oklahoma's top law enforcement official.
Mobster Baker Sues New York for ‘False Imprisonment’ Tied to Gangland Murder
A Brooklyn bakery owner with alleged mob ties is suing the state of New York for what he claims was false imprisonment.
Mario Fortunato was placed behind bars following two guilty verdicts against him involving a gangland murder. Both those verdicts were later overturned.
The reputed Genovese Crime Family associated wants to be reimbursed for millions of dollars.
Mobster Accused of Trying to Have Daughter’s Boyfriend Killed Won’t be Home for Xmas
(Associated Press) - A REPUTED mob associate will stay in jail over Christmas while a judge weighs charges that he tried to have his daughter's boyfriend and two rivals killed.
Ronald Galati Sr., who has an auto body shop on 20th Street near McKean in South Philadelphia, also is accused of threatening people during a grand-jury investigation focusing on organized crime and insurance fraud.
Canada’s Most Notorious Mobster Vito Rizzuto Dies in Hospital
One of Canada’s most notorious mobsters, Vito Rizzuto, has died of natural causes after being admitted to a Montreal hospital early Monday morning. He was 67.
Rizzuto reportedly entered the hospital after suffering chest pains.
Convicted Genovese Crime Family Member Denied Furlough to Attend Rangers Game
Brooklyn Federal Judge Pamela Chen has denied Genovese crime family mobster Felice Masullo an unusual request to attend a New York Rangers game this week with his family.
Philadelphia Whacks Contract With Reputed Mobster Charged With Hiring Hitman
Reputed mob associate Ronald Galati's American Collision & Automotive Center has raked in more than $1.2 million in taxpayer money since 2011. Now the city of Philadelphia has severed the lucrative contract with the auto body repair shop.
Man Dies Following Altercation in Reno Casino
Reno police are investigating the suspicious death of a man taken by ambulance from Reno’s Eldorado Casino at about 2 am Sunday morning.
“Preliminary investigation has revealed the victim was involved in a physical altercation prior to being transported to the hospital,” police said in a statement Tuesday night.
The victim’s name and age had not yet been released as police await the final results of an autopsy.
SC Bookie and Convicted Murderer Brett Parker, Dad Sentenced to Five Months
Irmo, South Carolina bookie Brett Parker, his dad Jack Parker and an associate Douglas E. Taylor were sentenced Wednesday morning in a federal court in Columbia following convictions for illegal bookmaking.
Convicted Mobster Whitey Bulger Transferred to Oklahoma Prison
Former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger has been moved to a federal prison in Oklahoma, although it was not immediately clear if he is there to stay.
The 84-year-old Bulger was being held Tuesday at FTC Oklahoma City, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website. The facility is a transfer point for many federal prisoners.
Poker Hostess Molly Bloom Pleads Guilty in Russian Mob Linked Gambling Case
NEW YORK (Associated Press) — A former high-stakes poker game hostess pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges she helped run underground games for Wall Street financiers and celebrities in guest rooms at The Plaza hotel.
Molly Bloom was among more than 30 people charged earlier this year in a sprawling scheme by two related Russian-American organized crime enterprises, authorities said. In recent years the operations laundered at least $100 million in proceeds from an illegal sports betting operation that catered largely to superrich Russians, prosecutors said.
Former Crime Boss Son Charged With Possession of Kiddie Porn
The son of one-time Genovese Crime boss Arthur (Artie) Nigro was arrested in the Bronx Wednesday for promoting a sexual performance of a child under the age of 17.
North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un Uncle Executed Over Gambling, Drug Usage
The uncle of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has been executed after being charged with disloyalty to the regime.
Graphic Video of Shooting Outside Bally’s Nightclub Drai’s Released (Video)
Video surveillance of an October 21 shooting outside Drai’s After Hours club inside Bally’s Las Vegas casino was released to the public on Tuesday.
Benjamin Frazier, 41, is charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon.
Frazier opened fired following a dispute over a $30 cover charge, according to a Metro Police arrest report.
Former Portsmouth, Blackburn Players Arrested as Part of Match Fixing Probe
Second division team Blackburn Rovers confirmed Monday that striker D.J. Campbell had been taken into custody by police as part of an undercover investigation into claims that the players accepted bribes to ensure certain outcomes during a match -- known as spot-fixing -- for betting purposes, CNN reported.
In all, six players have been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation into match fixing attempts of a championship game.
‘Operation Gotham City’ Sports Betting Ring in South Florida Busted
Law enforcement authorities have busted a major illegal sports betting ring in South Florida dubbed “Operation Gotham City” following a year-long investigation.
12 people were charged Friday (December 6, 2013) in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Five of the twelve remained at large as of late Friday evening.
Adam Green, 52, has been identified as the ring leader of the sports betting operative.
Computer Hacker Steals Fantasy Game Items From RuneScape Customers
A computer hacker is accused of stealing virtual property from online fantasy gamers as a means of paying off real debt he had incurred.
Steven Burrell, 21, spent 16 months hacking into player profiles on the fantasy site RuneScape.com. Some 200 million players use the RuneScape website.
Because the items in question existed in a “medieval fantasy world”, Burrell has not been charged with theft. Instead, the 21-year-old has been charged with hacking.
Two England Footballers Charged as Part of Match-Fixing Probe
(Reuters) - Two players from an English sixth tier semi-professional team have become the latest to be charged as part of an investigation into soccer match-fixing, British police said on Thursday.
Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22 and from Whitehawk FC in Brighton, were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law and have been bailed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court next Wednesday.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Online Gambling Business
A Florida man entered a guilty plea in connection to his involvement in an illegal online gambling business based in Stanford, Connecticut.
Craig Caffro, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of operating an illegal gambling business.
Caffro was one of 20 individuals arrested for their role in running the now shuttered online gambling site 44Wager.com. All but one of these individuals have agreed to forfeit money and property
Mobster was Left to be Eaten Alive by Ravenous Pigs
Reputed mobster Francesco Raccosta was beaten with iron bars by members of the Ndrangheta crime family in the Calabria region of Southern Italy.
They then tossed him inside a pig sty where he was left to be eaten alive by the hungry hogs.
The murder was allegedly carried out by mob boss Simone Pepe, 24, who has since confessed to the murder of Raccosta and three other men.
“It was so satisfying hearing him scream. Mamma Mia, he could scream!” Pepe is heard shouting on recorded wiretaps. “I didn’t see a f–king thing left.
12 Ninja Malware Contains PokerGrabber Module Targeting Poker Players
There is a growing fear in the poker community of a new malware being used to hijack information from unsuspecting poker players.
It’s called “12 Ninja” and features a “PokerGrabber” module that targets major online poker sites and, ultimately, the poker players themselves.
