Crime
Philly Mob Jurors Reach Verdict on Some Counts, Deadlocked on Others
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — The judge in a Philadelphia mob racketeering trial says the jury has reached a verdict on some counts but is deadlocked on others.
Asian Match Fixing Scandal Rocks Soccer World
(Reuters) - Hundreds of soccer matches have been fixed in a global betting scam run from Singapore, police said on Monday, in a blow to the image of the world's most popular sport and a multi-billion dollar industry.
Costa Rica Based Bookmaker Platinum SB Shut Down by RCMP
The RCMP raided a Super Bowl party Sunday in Ontario and shut down the Costa Rican-based bookmaking operation Platinum SB in the process.
Police also seized $2.5 million during the raid.
The RCMP claims that 6 of the over 2300 people in attendance at the Le Parc Banquet Hall party had ties to the gambling operation and the mob.
RCMP Raids Super Bowl Party: Canadian Bookies, Mobsters in Attendance
The RCMP on Sunday raided a Super Bowl party attended by some 2500 people and, in so doing, claims to have dismantled an alleged mob-linked multi-million dollar illegal gambling ring.
Many of Canada’s more successful bookies were in attendance at the “invite-only” party as heavily armed tactical officers entered the premises at Le Parc Banquet Hall in Markham, Ontario.
Deliberations Resume Monday In Philly Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA - (Associated Press) — Jurors will begin another week of deliberations Monday on racketeering charges against reputed leaders of the Philadelphia mob.
The federal court panel considered the case for about six hours Sunday but reached no verdict.
Philly Mob Jury at Impasse, Will Work Through Super Bowl
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A jury weighing racketeering charges against reputed leaders of the Philadelphia mob say they're at an impasse but were sent back to work Saturday.
PokerAgent Botnet Harvested More Than 16,194 Facebook Credentials
PokerAgent Botnet, a trojan designed to steal user and credit card information, reportedly stole some 16,194 Facebook log-in credentials during the last two years, according to Robert Lipovsky of ESET. This included customer credit card information tied to Facebook and Zynga accounts.
Full Tilt Poker’s Chris Ferguson in Extensive Talks With US Government
Poker pro and one time stakeholder in Full Tilt Poker, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, is in extensive talks with the US Government to settle allegations that he helped orchestrate a ponzi scheme. Court papers were filed on Tuesday, CardPlayer.com reported.
No Verdict Yet in Philly Mob Trial as Jurors Finish 14th Day of Deliberations
14 days of deliberations and still no verdict in the trial of Philadelphia Mob boss Joseph Ligambi.
Earlier in the day, jurors asked to hear more audio tapes from the 10-week trial, according to John P. Martin of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Philly Mob Trial Judge: Jurors Could be Forced to Work Through Super Bowl
PHILADELPHIA – (Associated Press) — A Philadelphia mob jury could work Super Bowl Sunday if the panel doesn’t reach a verdict this week in the sports betting and loansharking case.
Jurors have been deliberating over four calendar weeks, although they’ve twice had to start over when alternates replaced original jurors.
Chaos at Philly Mob Trial But Jury Resumes Deliberations
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A jury weighing mob racketeering charges in Philadelphia is back at work after a chaotic week in which two jurors were replaced and a foreman quit the post.
M88 Site Named in Gambling Bust
Seven individuals have been arrested for their connection to a Vietnamese sports betting ring said to have taken in US$48 million.
Those arrested early January 17, 2012 include Nguyen Le Sang, 37; Nguyen Le Giang, 50; Le Van Hai, 25; Nguyen Thai Ngan, 22; Pham Thi Kim Loan, 41; Cu Huy Giap and Nguyen Anh Thai.
Poker Player Known as ‘The Don’ Convicted for $1.2 Billion UK Property Fraud
A Greek businessman, known as ‘The Don’ on the international poker circuit, has been convicted for a $1.2 billion United Kingdom property fraud. Those convictions include two counts of conspiracy to defraud.
Achilleas Kallakis, 44, and co-conspirator Alexander M. Williams, also 44, defrauded banks to borrow 740 million pounds ($1.18 billion) and acquire 16 properties, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office said in a statement.
Online Gambling Pioneer Sentenced to Three Years Probation
Bill Scott, the founder of once powerful World Wide Tele Sports, has been sentenced to three years of probation for violating the US Wire Act and money laundering. Scott also had to forfeit $6,786,934.65 from various US bank accounts.
Crown Gambling CEO Linked to Taiwan Gambling Probe
Crown Ltd CEO Rowen Craigie has been named in an investigation into the alleged channelling of $US180 million in illicit gambling funds from Taiwan to Macau.
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
Harry Reid Denies Attempting to Derail Investigation of Online Gambling Figure
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid denied any involvement in an alleged effort to help derail a federal investigation into Jeremy Johnson’s Utah businesses. Johnson was a central figure at the SunFirst Bank of Utah that helped process funds for online poker firms Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. Each of these businesses were later named in an indictment filed April 15, 2011, a day commonly known within the Web poker community as “Black Friday”.
Palms Casino in Vegas Caught Up in Drug, Prostitution Sting
LAS VEGAS -- Gambling regulators are fining the Palms casino in Las Vegas $1 million after nightclub employees provided undercover agents with prostitutes and drugs, including cocaine and prescription painkillers.
College Student Gets 60 Years in Prison for Robbing Poker Game
A Gaithersburg, Maryland man has received a 60 years sentence for robbing a poker game at a College Park apartment.
24-year-old Sergio Hernandez had earned a scholarship to Georgetown University. He was convicted of 52 counts out of 53 back in September. Those charges include robbery with a deadly weapon, first and second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.
The robbery occurred in August 2011.
Three Bookies Sentenced to Five Years in Prison: One Shot His Wife
COLUMBIA, SC – (Associated Press) - Three men have been sentenced for their role in a Columbia gambling ring authorities say is connected to a double murder suspect.
U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says Lanny Ray Gunter was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Harry Benenhaley and Ronald Dale Spence were each sentenced to five years probation.
The men pleaded guilty in October to running a gambling operation, taking in thousands of dollars on any given day.
Former Detroit Mayor’s Dad Gambled Away $218k: On Trial as Tax Cheat
The father of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick stands trial for allegedly gambling away approximately $218,000 and underpaying on his taxes. A former IRS agent testified in the trial this week.
The trial returned following a 12-month holiday break.
Kilpatrick reportedly took in more than $2.2 million as a business consultant during his son’s tenure as mayor.
He gambled away much of his money at casinos in both Detroit and Las Vegas.
From The Detroit News:
Convictions Upheld Against Chinese Bankers Who Laundered Money at Casinos
A federal appeals court panel upheld convictions of two former Bank of China managers along with their wives. They are accused of stealing over $480 million from a bank and using a portion of those funds at various Las Vegas casinos.
Online Gambling Software Pioneer Facing Prison Time
An Arizona-based Internet gambling software pioneer, Robert (Bob) Stuart, has been charged with promoting gambling in New York because authorities claim the software in question was used by other individuals for “illegal” purposes.
Gambling Addict Pretending to be Rugby Player was ‘Too Fat’
Christopher Hoare, age 30, claimed to be playing for the London Wasps Rugby team. The staff of a London hotel where Hoare racked up a £2,400 bill became suspicious, however, as he appeared far to "overweight" and "out of condition" to play such a physically demanding game.
Defense Rests in High Profile Philadelphia Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — They won’t be going home for Christmas, but several accused mobsters appeared upbeat Wednesday as their racketeering trial in Philadelphia nears an end.
Full Tilt Poker Head Howard Lederer Forfeits $1.25 Mil, Several Properties
Howard Lederer, the one time part owner of Full Tilt Poker, has settled with the US Government, agreeing to forfeit $1.25 million in bank accounts and a number of real estate properties.
Judge To Ask Jury About Slaying Amid Philadelphia Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A judge plans to ask jurors about a suspected mob-linked slaying that took place Wednesday, just hours after prosecutors wrapped up a mob racketeering case.
Fifty-year-old victim Gino DiPietro has been mentioned in the two-month trial of alleged Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi and six others.
DOJ Forfeits $7 Million in Proceeds From One of First Online Gambling Sites WWTS
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a consent order of forfeiture today ordering the civil forfeiture of $6,976,924 traced to international money laundering of the proceeds from an offshore Internet gambling operation that illegally targeted U.S. residents, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Richard Weber, Chief of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Massive Online Gambling Bust Nets Over 400 People in China
Police from China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar shut down a US$1.75 billion online gambling operation based in China’s Hubei Province on Thursday.
The investigation has been ongoing for two years now and involved some 400 individuals of which 37 have been detained thus far.
Defense: Philly Mob Boss was Rainmaker
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A mob lawyer in Philadelphia tried Tuesday to persuade jurors that an alleged La Cosa Nostra boss was a rainmaker at a trash disposal company, not a no-show Teamsters worker.
Miami Police Under Investigation by Feds in Bookmaking Case
At least a half dozen Miami police officers are under investigation by the FBI for allegedly providing protection to a Liberty City sports gambling operation, according to the Miami Herald. At least one officer has been relieved of his duties.
