Crime
Gambling Addict Steals Baby’s iPhone: Caught on Camera
How bad a problem is gambling addiction? Just ask 72-year-old gambling addict Kenneth Fletcher of Liverpool, England.
Poker Personality Nolan Dalla Conned Out of $37k by ‘Notorious’ Peter Falcone
Nolan Dalla has come forward to declare he was conned out of $37,000 by one time best friend Peter Falcone.
Dalla writes on his blog in a three-part series admitting his vulnerability.
Peter Falcone.
Mass Organized Crime Figure Joseph Giallanella Sentenced to 2 Years
WOBURN, Mass. (Associated Press) — A 64-year-old North Andover man prosecutors say was a key associate in a loan sharking and illegal gambling operation has been sentenced to two years and a day in prison.
Florida House Could Inadvertently Ban Online Poker in State
With news this month of Florida’s legislatures banning Internet cafes in the wake of a massive money laundering scheme, there have been concerns raised that online poker could inadvertently be banned in the Sunshine State as a result.
The Florida House last week voted 110 to 6 to ban Internet cafes in the state.
Poker Pro Greg Raymer Leaves PPA Board Following Hooker Arrest
Poker pro Greg Raymer has announced he will no longer be serving on the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) board following last weekend’s highly publicized arrest for solicitation of a prostitute and attempting to engage in an unnatural sex act.
French Police Raid Christine Lagarde’s, Bernard Tapie Homes
The Telegraph has reported that International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde’s Paris flat was raided as part of an investigation into a €285 million payment made to Bernard Tapie. His home was also raided.
Tapie heads up the International Stadiums Poker Tour and the purpose of the raid was to determine if Lagarde acted illegally when approving a €285 Million arbitration payout to Tapie.
RCMP Carries Out More Raids, Arrests in Connection with Platinum SB
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of the RCMP Wednesday morning arrested two more individuals in connection with running what it deemed to be an organized crime-linked bookmaking operation that also has ties to the Hell’s Angels.
Police arrested Michael Kriaris, 39, of Toronto, and Augustino Valenzisi, 43, of Vaughan. Both face charges related to engaging in bookmaking and committing an offence to benefit a criminal organization.
Broncos Player Quinton Carter Faces Felony in Alleged Casino Cheating
Denver Broncos safety Quinton Carter is facing felony charges after the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas accused him of adding a $5 chip to three bets after the dice already rolled. Video surveillance apparently captured the event.
A spokesperson for the team told the Associated Press the Broncos are investigating the matter.
No More Internet Cafes in Florida Following Gambling Arrests: Senate OK
(Associated Press) - A Senate panel has cleared its version of a ban on the Florida gambling establishments commonly known as Internet cafes.
The Senate committee on gaming Monday voted 11-0 on the bill (SB 1030) that started as a moratorium and evolved into an outright ban.
The vote follows a House committee's clearing of its own bill banning internet cafes on Friday.
Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigned last week in the wake of an investigation into the Allied Veterans of the World charity that was suspected of running illegal gambling.
Jenny Woo: Greg Raymer One of the Good Guys of Poker Despite Hooker F-Up
Poker pro Greg Raymer does not have an arrest record of any kind, so Friday's shocking revelation that he was nabbed during a hooker sting operation certainly has many in the poker community scratching their heads.
Poker Pro Greg Raymer Arrested in Prostitution Sting
One of poker’s best known players, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, has been arrested following a North Carolina prostitution sting operation.
Florida Gambling Arrests May Shut Down Veterans Shelter
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Associated Press) — A former Army cook who fell on hard times, Debbie Bowman has been living at the Allied Veterans Center, a shelter for homeless veterans, since August.
Florida Legislature Move to Ban Internet Cafes Following Gambling Scandal
(Reuters) - The resignation of Florida's lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll, and the arrests of 57 people charged with money laundering and racketeering has sparked a stampede in the state legislature to shut down hundreds of "internet cafes," whose online gambling operations have been allowed to skirt the law for several years.
RCMP Releases Names of Those Charged in Platinum SB Gambling Probe
As the result of an on-going illegal gaming investigation, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) has charged the following individuals with the offences of Commit a Criminal Offence for the Benefit of a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy to Commit the Indictable Offence of Engage in Bookmaking
Names of Those Arrested in Platinum SB Probe Yet to be Released
Though the RCMP announced it would be identifying those arrested Tuesday March 5, 2013 in connection with a massive bookmaking operation in the Ontario region today, this was yet to occur as of Wednesday evening.
Full Tilt Poker Defendant Ray Bitar ‘Medical Condition’ Suspends Plea Deal Talks
“Black Friday” defendant Ray Bitar, who was named as one of the key executives at Full Tilt Poker, is suffering from a medical condition of unknown origin. The matter has resulted in the suspension plea deal talks.
The story was first reported by FlushDraw.com.
Ex-Texas Attorney Gets 10 years for Theft to Support Gambling Addiction
NEW BOSTON, Texas (Associated Press) — A former lawyer in Texas and Arkansas who allegedly had a gambling problem must serve 10 years in prison for stealing nearly $250,000 from clients.
The Texarkana Gazette reports 65-year-old Don Cooksey was taken into custody Tuesday following sentencing in New Boston.
18 More Arrests Made in Connection With Platinum Sportsbook Probe
The RCMP arrested another 18 individuals in connection with an ongoing case tied to Web-based sports betting operator Platinum Sportsbook (or Platinum SB).
RCMP to Release More Info on Platinum Sportsbook in Wake of Super Bowl Raid
The RCMP were expected to release information pertaining to Platinum Sportsbook following a much publicized raid during a Super Bowl party last month.
Attorney General Seeks Removal of Judge in VictoryLand Case
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Associated Press) — Alabama's attorney general is asking a Macon County judge to step aside from a case involving the seizure of 1,615 gambling machines and more than $223,000 in cash from VictoryLand casino in Shorter.
Attorney General Luther Strange filed court papers telling Circuit Judge Tom Young Jr. he should recuse himself because he's prejudiced against the state's evidence.
Republican Mega Donor Sheldon Adelson Caught Up in ‘Bribe’ Scandal
Auditors at Las Vegas Sands Corp. admitted Friday "there were likely violations" of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act barring Americans from bribing foreign officials to secure an advantage.
This disclosure was made in a late afternoon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday that ultimately leaked out to the media Sunday.
Heading up Las Vegas Sands Corp. is none other than powerful casino magnate and mega Republican donor Sheldon Adelson.
Las Vegas Strip Shooter Apprehended
A man accused of fatally shooting rapper Kenneth Wayne Cherry Jr., 27, outside the Aria Hotel on the Vegas Strip last month was arrested this past Thursday.
“We can confirm that the LAPD-FBI task force arrested a fugitive from Las Vegas wanted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department," Los Angeles police spokesman Lieutenant Andy Neiman said.
26-year-old Ammar Harris is accused of shooting Cherry as he sat in the driver’s seat of his Maserati. That car then careened into a taxi cab, killing the driver and a passenger.
Sands Says It May Have Violated Law Prohibiting Bribes
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – (Associated Press) - Las Vegas Sands Corp. says in a regulatory filing that it probably violated a federal law that prohibits bribing foreign officials.
The casino company said in a filing Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission asked two years ago for records relating to compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Las Vegas Sands, which is controlled by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, said that after it got the SEC subpoena on Feb. 9, 2011, the audit committee of the board of directors opened an investigation.
Seedy Side of Internet Cafes: Degenerate Gamblers, Hookers, Mickey Mouse
Law enforcement in North Jakarta have detained Mickey Mouse…well, sort of…
That’s the nic they gave to gambling boss Hady Soemantri a.k.a Bong Can a.k.a Acan.
The raid comes at a time when Indonesia is in the midst of cracking down on illegal Internet café’s used for gambling purposes. The businesses are often run from 8 am to 1 am.
Woman Sought in Las Vegas Strip Shooting That Left Three Dead
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — A 22-year-old Miami woman with a history of prostitution arrests was identified Tuesday as a person of interest in a Las Vegas Strip shooting that triggered a spectacular fiery crash and left three people dead.
Police said Tineesha Lashun Howard was in a black SUV with Ammar Harris last week when he fired shots into a Maserati sports car at a self-promoted rapper who investigators say argued with Harris minutes earlier in the valet area of a glassy Strip resort.
Dead Rapper in Vegas Strip Shooting Worked as a Pimp: Suspect Still on Loose
A rapper killed in a brazen Las Vegas Strip shooting last week reportedly worked as a pimp. Kenny Cherry Jr. (AKA “Kenny Clutch”) was shot while behind the wheel of his Maserati. He then slammed his car into a parked taxi killing both the driver and a passenger.
New Jersey Mobster Louis ‘Big Lou’ Fazzini Gets Nearly 5 Years Jail Time
New Jersey mobster Louis “Big Lou” Fazzini has been sentenced to 55 months behind bars after pleading guilty this past October to racketeering and conspiracy connected to a Mob-controlled gambling operation.
Fazzini had previously served four years prison time after being convicted of similar charges in 1999.
Search Widens for Suspect in Vegas Strip Shooting
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — The search has widened to the southeastern U.S. for a 26-year-old man who police call the prime suspect in a shooting and fiery crash that killed three last week on the Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas police Capt. Chris Jones said Monday that investigators were tracing places where Ammar Harris lived and worked in the past.
Public records show Harris lived in South Carolina and Georgia; was convicted in Atlanta in 2005 of marijuana possession; and was arrested in Miami in December on a reckless driving charge.
Old Gambling Case Leads to Alabama Casino Raid
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Associated Press) -- The state attorney general's office used a century-old gambling case to get a rare, but not unprecedented, search warrant to raid VictoryLand casino in Shorter.
Macon County Circuit Judge Tom Young initially refused to give the attorney general a search warrant. Attorney General Luther Strange appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. He cited an 1899 case where a justice of the peace denied an arrest warrant based on an incorrect interpretation of the law, and the Supreme Court ordered it issued.
SUV in Fatal Vegas Strip Shooting Seized: Suspect Identified
(Associated Press) - Police are seeking a 26-year-old man as the prime suspect in last week's pre-dawn shooting and crash on the Las Vegas Strip that killed three people and injured several others
