Crime
Top Florida Officials Named Witnesses in Internet Café Gambling Case
SANFORD, Fla. – (Associated Press) - Some of Florida's top politicians and law enforcement officials were named as defense witnesses Tuesday for a Jacksonville lawyer charged with being the mastermind behind a veterans' charity that prosecutors say was actually a gambling operation at strip malls that offered sweepstakes games across the state.
Undercover FBI Agents Placed Bets on Legends.com, Won and Lost Thousands
FBI agents from the Oklahoma City office placed bets with Panama City-based Legends.com (known also as Legends.com and Legendz.com) as part of a nearly 10-year investigation leading to the indictment of nearly three dozen individuals.
Three Men Sentenced for Role in Running Online Gambling Site
The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut on Friday announced the sentencing of three Hartford men for their role in running an online sports betting site out of Costa Rica.
San Francisco Examiner: WSEX Founder Killed Himself With Illegal Gun
Tom Somach reports in the San Francisco Examiner Sunday that Steve Schillinger of Word Sports Exchange, who killed himself last month, had an illegal gun and Antigua police are investigating how he got it, where and from whom he got it.....Read the Sunday edition story on Schillinger by clicking here.
San Francisco Examiner to Cover Steve Schillinger Suicide
Gambling911.com can confirm that the San Francisco Examiner,, one of America’s most prominent newspapers, will be running a feature story on the death of World Sports Exchange founder Steve Schillinger. That story was expected to be published on Sunday (May 5, 2013).
Bill to Stop Expansion of Internet Cafes in Ohio Heading to State Senate
COLUMBUS — (Associated Press) - A bill that would immediately halt the expansion of Internet cafes in Ohio cleared a legislative panel Tuesday evening and was headed for a vote by the full state Senate.
The measure would extend a current moratorium on the opening of new sweepstakes gambling operations until June 2014, as lawmakers consider a ban on the facilities. The legislation also would require operators of current facilities to file more thorough affidavits of existence with the state. And those who don’t submit a new affidavit could face a fine of up to $1,000 a day.
85-Year-Old Avoids Prison Sentence for Running Illegal Gambling Business
BOSTON (Associated Press) - Three Cape Cod men who pleaded guilty in 2011 to running an illegal gambling ring have avoided prison time.
Federal prosecutors say 86-year-old Adam Hart and 62-year-old William Neofotistos were sentenced to two years of probation, including six months of house arrest.
They were also fined $40,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Also, 34-year-old Timothy Reardon was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $3,000.
Busted High Stakes Poker Ring had Ties to NYC Murder Suicide
A busted Russian mob linked high stakes poker and sports betting ring had ties to a murder suicide, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.
From the Daily News:
WSEX Founder Left Suicide Note: Hated Having to Stiff Customers
World Sports Exchange founder Steve Shillinger reportedly left a suicide note behind prior to taking a gun to his head last week.
Obama’s Choice of Ambassador to France has Ties to High Stakes Poker Bust, Mob
A recent New York City bust tied to illegal sports betting and high stakes poker games led to the indictment of a prominent art dealer, a so-called “Princess of Poker” and an individual said to be a major figure in Russian organized crime.
Hong Kong Police Arrest 4 in Hacking Death of Triad Boss: Disemboweled in Front of Many
Hong Kong police announced Monday the arrests of 4 individuals ages 18 through 30 for the brutal hacking death of alleged triad boss. Only the age (30) and surname (Tse) of the victime were disclosed.
The attack occurred outside a hospital in front of many onlookers. One of the strikes nearly disemboweled the victim.
Witnesses Testify in High Stakes Poker Game Killing
Eight men involved in a Saginaw Township, Michigan high stakes poker game testified against Quintel A. West this week.
West is accused of fatally shooting Michael Kuhlman, who was hosting the poker game at his home. West and an accomplice were attempting to enter the home, according to the witnesses. When Kuhlman placed his weight against the door to try and prevent the two men from entering, he was shot through the door. The bullet entered his lung.
More Internet Cafe Raids Reveal Gambling, Drugs, Booze
CBS13 in Sacramento has uncovered what appears to be an illegal gambling business at a local Internet café.
From CBS13:
Ray Bitar Must Give Up $3m Mansion, Surrender 18 Bank Accounts
Former Full Tilt Poker CEO Ray Bitar may not be serving any jail time but he will have to surrender several coveted assets including a $3 million mansion in Glendora, California.
Bitar was among those indicted for his role in running an illegal online poker room, Full Tilt Poker. He recently plead guilty to charges of fraud and violating a 2006 gambling prohibition act.
Art Gallery With Alleged Ties to High Stakes Poker Probe, Russian Mob Reopens
The Helly Nahmad Gallery, located within the confines of the ritzy Midtown Manhattan Carlyle Hotel, has reopened.
Schillinger had Questionable Past: Was Fugitive Right Up to ‘Suicide’
World Sports Exchange founder Steve Schillinger came under fire early on in his offshore gambling days. This past weekend, one of online gambling’s pioneers was found dead in his Antigua condo, shot in the head, in a story first broken by Gambling911.com on Monday morning.
Two Men Sentenced in Poker Player Extortion Plot: Hacked and Stole Naked Pics
Keith James Hudson, 39, has plead guilty to hacking into professional poker players accounts and stealing naked pictures then attempting to extort money. Hudson will serve two years prison time.
Also pleading guilty, Tyler Schrier, 23, who was sentenced to 3 1/2 years behind bars. He was sentenced for conspiracy, extortion and unauthorized access to another personal's computer information without permission.
Colorful Characters Emerge in High Stakes Poker Case With Russian Mob Ties
NEW YORK — (Associated Press) - It’s a case teeming with colorful characters: a reputed Russian mob boss once accused in an Olympic scandal, a wealthy art world impresario who hung out with Leonardo DiCaprio and a woman named Molly Bloom who gained a celebrity following by hosting them at high-stakes poker games.
Foul Play Not Ruled Out in Shooting Death of WSEX.com Founder Steve Schillinger
Homicide detectives on the Caribbean island of Antigua have not ruled out homicide in the shooting death of World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) founder Steve Schillinger.
The 60-year-old businessman was found dead in his Darkroom Beach condominium late Friday. He had been shot in the head with a .380 pistol.
Bet365 Named in Affidavits Tied to Criminal Complaint
Bet365 was recently mentioned in the affidavits supporting a criminal complaint filed against two individuals in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York who are accused of money laundering connected with an Internet gambling operation. Bet365 was not named as a defendant, but the question remains; can a non-U.S. facing site be at risk for prosecution as a result of customers who obtain access to their sites through masked IP addresses?
Legends Sports Defendant Spiros Athanas Helped Police Solve Brutal Murder
A man indicted for his alleged role in a massive sports betting ring actually helped US authorities capture a vicious killer, Gambling911.com can reveal.
The Legends Sports WagerWeb Bailout Explained
A number of Gambling911.com readers have inquired as to the nature of a 5-time rollover requirement in order to withdraw funds from their Legends Sports betting accounts, which are now in the process of being transferred over to WagerWeb. Good news, WagerWeb has informed Gambling911 that the rollver requirement is now 5 times (not 10).
Poker Princess Pleads Not Guilty in High Stakes Poker Russian Mob Probe
A woman cited for running high stakes poker games for celebrities, athletes and Wall Street bigwigs has pleaded Not Guilty.
Bloom and 33 others were indicted this past week in connection with their affiliation to a multi-million dollar international gambling ring alleged to have ties to the Russian Mafia. She was arraigned in a Manhattan federal court on Friday.
Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Capo Anthony Staino Pleads Guilty to Racketeering, Gambling
Anthony Staino, 55, of Swedesboro, N.J., pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a racketeering conspiracy as a capo in the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family and committing loan sharking and illegal gambling.
Not a Pretty Picture Painted of Art Dealer Tied to Poker, Sports Betting Probe
The Business Insider of Australia gave the low down on New York-based art dealer Helly Nahmad, a Lebanese-American indicted this week in connection with an international high stakes poker/sports betting ring.
It ain’t all that pretty either.
Megan Willett writes:
Producer of Showtime’s ‘Ray Donovan’ Denies Wrongdoing in FBI Poker Sting
Bryan Zuriff, an Executive Producer for the upcoming Showtime drama “Ray Donovan” has denied any wrongdoing in connection to an FBI probe of high stake poker games and sports betting with ties to the Russian Mafia.
Insurance Broker Used $1.9 Million of Clients Funds to Gamble Online
An insurance broker from Prudential has been indicted, charged with allegedly bilking his insurance clients out of over $1.9 million and using those funds to gamble online.
The indictment alleges that Daniel J. Trolaro, 34, unlawfully used the funds of nine clients to place wagers via the Internet from June 2008 through February of this year while employed at Prudential in East Hanover, New Jersey.
Trolaro will not be arrested, however, he must appear before a judge in Morris County in the coming weeks.
Ohio AG Unit Raids Internet Cafes Over Illegal Gambling
COLUMBUS – (Associated Press) - Early Wednesday afternoon, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty were in Euclid and announced the execution of six search warrants on six separate internet cafes that are currently open and operating illegally in Cuyahoga County.
Three are owned by VS2 Software, the company that supplies the Video Lottery Terminals.
Legends Sports to Shut Down: Will Transfer Accounts to Other Book
Exactly one week after indictments were handed down against 34 individuals tied to Panama-based Legends Sports, that long established sportsbook has made the decision to shut down.
Legends alerted customers via email that they were in talks with another top online sportsbook to have all accounts transferred.
NJ Men Arrested for Running Illegal Poker Games Tied to Russian Mob
Yugheshwar Rajkumar of Bergen County, New Jersey, has been taken into custody for his alleged role in running high stakes poker games tied to Russian organized crime.
The games were attended by Hollywood celebrities, athletes and high powered Wall Street executives, according to an indictment handed down on Tuesday.
