Crime
Queens DA Indicts 6 for Running Gambling Ring, Trafficking Cocaine and Heroin
NEW YORK (Associated Press) — Authorities say six people have been indicted in connection with a New York gambling ring that handled an estimated $1 million in bets a year.
Authorities say about 30 betting parlors operated through a central wire room in Brooklyn.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown says the family-run ring operated in Queens, Brooklyn and Nassau County.
Allied Veterans Gambling Trial Gets Underway in Florida
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — (Associated Press) - Florida's statewide prosecutor told a jury that a Jacksonville attorney "gamed" the legal system in creating a network of gambling centers throughout Florida under the guise of a charitable veterans group.
Brett Parker Dad Convicted of Bookmaking (Video)
Convicted killer Brett Parker, his dad and another man have been found guilty of bookmaking in South Carolina.
A federal jury in Columbia deliberated for five hours. Brett’s father, Jack, and Doug Taylor were found to have had an active role in running the massive illegal bookie business.
Brett Parker is already serving a life sentence for murdering his wife, Tammy Jo, and business partner, Bryan Capnerhurst.
Singapore Police Arrest 14 Involved in Global Match-Fixing Scheme
ROME (Associated Press) — Singapore authorities arrested the suspected leader of an organized crime gang allegedly involved in global soccer match-fixing and 13 others, Interpol announced Wednesday.
Jury Deliberations Begin Today in Brett Parker Bookie Case
The trial lasted no more than two days and the jury will begin deliberations Wednesday in the case of South Carolina bookmaker Brett Parker.
Parker is already convicted and serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Tammy Jo, and one of his employees.
British Players Charged in Australian Match-Fixing Probe
London side Hornchurch players Reiss Noel and Joe Woolley have been charged by Australian police as being part of a match-fixing scheme.
Both men had been transferred to the Southern Stars in Australia over the summer.
The match-fixing investigation was prompted by information provided by the Football Federation of Australia (FFA), according to the BBC.
Man Sentenced 30 Years to Life for Assaulting Poker Pro Ron Wall
A Las Vegas judge has sentenced 34-year-old Edmond Price to 30 years to life for assaulting and robbing poker pro Ron “The Duke of Fremont” Wall.
40 People Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Casino
YAKIMA, Wash. (Associated Press) - More than 40 people have been indicted in Eastern Washington, accused of conspiring to steal more than $100,000 from a Yakama Nation tribal casino through a promotional event.
Witness in Brett Parker Bookie Case Claims he Handled Money for Murdered Wife
Day One of an illegal bookmaking trial involving South Carolina convicted murderer Brett Parker featured testimony from a witness who claimed he handled money for Parker’s wife.
Brett Parker Bookie Trial Gets Under Way: Murdered Wife, Clerk
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Associated Press) — Federal prosecutors seek to prove that a South Carolina man already convicted of double murder, his father, and an associate were behind a sports betting ring that moved thousands of dollars.
Argentina Police Arrest Hacker Who Targeted Online Gambling Sites, Processors
A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Argentina for allegedly hacking into online gambling sites and payment processors.
Dubbed "the superhacker", the teenager was making $50,000 (£31,500) a month, working from his bedroom in Buenos Aires, police told the Reuters.
Footballer Ian Black Gets 10-Match Ban for Betting Breach
(Reuters) - Rangers midfielder Ian Black was given a 10-match ban by a Scottish FA disciplinary tribunal on Thursday after admitting breaching betting rules.
Black, who was also fined 7,500 pounds ($11,900), will serve an immediate three-game ban and the remaining seven will be suspended until the end of the season, the SFA said in a statement.
The further suspension will take effect upon any breach of SFA rules 22 or 23, which apply to betting.
Six Senior Citizens Among Those Arrested for Role in Illegal Gambling Ring
Ten individuals, including six senior citizens, have been busted for running an illegal gambling ring in Indianapolis. An 83-year-old man was among those arrested.
Detectives also confiscated a little over $4,400 in cash. Officers removed pull tab machines, 13 brown boxes, and some suspected cocaine, according to WISH-TV.
Prosecutors have charged the suspects with professional gambling. Police had conducted raids on the same property twice in the past two months.
Alderney Gets Another Black Eye: Suspends Sheriff Gaming License Following Raids
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission has finally suspended the license of Sheriff Gaming following a series of highly publicized raids in the Netherlands.
PA Lawmaker Caught Up in Illegal Gambling Investigation Wiretap
GLASSPORT, Pa. — (Associated Press) - A western Pennsylvania lawmaker overheard on a wiretap telling the suspected ringleader of an illegal gambling operation that he would conceal a complaint about the man's video poker machines says he has cooperated with investigators and tried to help the person who complained about the machines.
State Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, broke his silence Monday on the wiretap information disclosed last week before the House Democratic Caucus.
Robert McGuigan: How Gambling Addiction Killed My Son Part II
Part 2 of my interview with the father of Jason McGuigan,Robert. Read what signs Jason was showing for gambling addiction and measures he was willing to take to satisfy his need. Part 1 of this interview received quite the response and you can read and comment here.
Pros Won’t Get Paid Back by Full Tilt Poker
The claims administrator overseeing payouts for former Full Tilt Poker customers announced Tuesday that pros and employees will be excluded from the process.
The Garden City Group circulated an email late Monday evening, which prompted a reply from Poker Players Alliance Regional Director Rich “TheEngineer” Muny via his Facebook page.
Alabama Robbery Probe Unveils Illegal Gambling
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Associated Press) - Jefferson County sheriff's officials say a reported robbery has led authorities to busting an illegal gambling operation.
Sheriff's spokesman Randy Christian says deputies were called to a business early Monday morning to investigate a robbery. Christian says responding officers found illegal electronic gambling machines inside the establishment.
Poker Player Laptops May Have Been Compromised at EPT Barcelona
Reports surfaced on Friday that at least two laptops left in a Barcelona hotel during a European Poker Tour event may have been infected with a Trojan virus.
No Contest Pleas From 2 Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Gambling, Extortion Case
A federal judge has accepted the no contest pleas from two Outlaws Motorcycle Club members charged with illegal gambling, extortion and wire fraud. Both men will avoid a trial as a result of their pleas.
“By accepting this, she (Walton-Pratt) has saved the government probably about $400,000 for a seven-week trial,” said Monica Foster, a federal defender for the Indiana Federal Community Defenders Inc.
New Book 'The Quiet Don' Claims Pennsylvania Gambling Mob Ties
EASTON, Pa. (Associated Press) — A new book says Pennsylvania state police ran a top-secret investigation into whether then-Gov. Ed Rendell and his administration rigged the outcome of the casino licensing process to benefit favored applicants, including a politically connected businessman suspected of having mob ties.
Anti-Terrorism Police Question 60 in Connection to Online Gambling Ring
60 Cambodians were being held in connection with running an online gambling ring that authorities believe could have ties to terrorism, though no specifics were given.
Former Nebraska Lawmaker Faces Ethics Complaint Over Gambling Scandal
LINCOLN, Neb. (Associated Press) — An ethics complaint has been filed against former Omaha state Sen. Brenda Council over her involvement in a gambling scandal.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the Nebraska Supreme Court's Counsel for Discipline filed the complaint accusing Council of professional misconduct.
Council pleaded guilty last year to two misdemeanor counts of filing false campaign finance reports. Prosecutors say the reports concealed her misuse of more than $63,000 in campaign donations at casinos. She was fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs.
Neighbors on Edge as Mob Boss Vito Rizzuto Moves in Next Door
Meet your new neighbor, Mob boss Vito Rizzuto.
One of Canada's best known mobsters was released from a US jail last October after being sentenced to 10 years for various offenses including gambling, racketeering and murder.
He recently settled into the quaint Quebec city of Laval and that has neighbors on edge.
Purple Lounge Casino Parent Company Closes Two Years After Disney BJ Scandal
The parent company of now defunct Purple Lounge Casino and Poker Room, Mediacorp plc, has ceased trading on the London Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
Purple Lounge shut down in April of last year due to what Mediacorp termed “liquidity issues”.
But Mediacorp months earlier had been embroiled in a messy sex scandal involving one of its non-executive Directors, Chris Gorman.
Police Investigate Website That Lists Gambling Deadbeats
(Reuters) - A bilingual website has been naming and shaming gamblers who allegedly fail to pay Macau casino debts.
The site, Wonderful World, claims it has already helped recover 50 million yuan (HK$63.35 million).
But the police are not sure about its legality and are now compiling an internal report.
The English version features a list of more than 70 people from across China who have allegedly failed to repay debts ranging from thousands to millions of yuan.
Bond Set for Mississippi Man Charged in Massive Dog Fighting Ring
GULFPORT, Miss. (Associated Press) - Bond has been set at $25,000 for a Biloxi, Miss., man arrested in a federal investigation of dog fighting and gambling.
Ricky Van Le was among 12 people arrested by federal authorities Friday in an investigation into organized dog fighting and gambling in the Southeast. The defendants allegedly conspired to promote and sponsor dog fights and arranged for dogs to be at the fights in several south and east Alabama counties and in Holly Springs, Miss., between 2009 and 2013.
Allied Veterans Lawyer Wants Charges Tossed
SANFORD, Fla. (Associated Press) - A Jacksonville attorney who prosecutors claim was the mastermind of a veterans' charity that actually was a $300 million gambling operation was in court asking that some of his criminal charges be tossed out.
Kelly Mathis was in a Seminole County courtroom Monday, trying to convince a Florida judge to dismiss money laundering charges he faces.
Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester didn't immediately rule.
Victoryland Case Gets New Judge
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (Associated Press) -- A new judge has been assigned to the case involving the state attorney general's seizure of electronic gambling machines and cash from VictoryLand casino in Shorter.
Circuit Judge Tom Young has appointed Circuit Judge Ray Martin to replace him in the Macon County case.
The Alabama Supreme Court ordered Young to step aside from the case Friday because he made disparaging remarks about the state's "attempts to enforce Alabama's gambling laws against VictoryLand."
12 Arrested in Multi-State Gambling Dog Fighting Ring
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Associated Press) — A federal and state investigation into dog fighting and gambling has resulted in the arrest of 12 people from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas.
U.S. Attorney George Beck said Monday the 12 are charged with conducting an illegal gambling business and multiple dog fighting charges, including promoting dog fights. Additional defendants are being sought.
