Crime
Swedish Poker Pros Held at Gunpoint in Casino Cosmopol: Others Extorted, Murdered
A number of Sweden’s most prominent poker pros have become victims of extortion plots, armed robbery and even murder.
PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Could See Charges Dropped in Wake of Poker Ruling
Following a New York federal judge ruling proclaiming poker as a “game of skill” and not “gambling” under current federal legislation, there is talk that charges against PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg could soon be dropped.
Scheinberg founded what is today the world’s largest “real money” online poker room the very day the World Trade Centers were under attack in New York City, September 11, 2011.
Surgeon Thought he Would be “Mowed Down With a Machine Gun” During Poker Game Raid
A prominent surgeon testified in court on Tuesday that he believed a robbery was about to take place during a high stakes poker game in Chattanooga, Tennessee last April when in fact police had commenced a raid on the property.
Dr. Neil Spitalyn said he feared being “mowed down with a machine gun”.
“It sounded like the front of the building had collapsed," he added.
Spitalyn claims he hid behind a garbage can before police came over and handcuffed him. Another officer shot one of the card players.
Will Julian Assange Be Arrested by British Police: Latest Betting Odds (Video)
Intrade.com has just released a new market over the weekend on whether Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be arrested by British police following word that the nation of Ecuador has granted the controversial activist/publisher political asylum in its London embassy.
Software Developer Executives Arrested in Connection with ‘Online Gambling Scheme’
Several executives from a Fort Worth, Texas software development company have been arrested Friday and charged with money laundering, felony gambling and organized criminal activity.
The company, HEST Technologies, claims to develop promotional systems for sweepstakes cafes, Internet cafes and nonprofit organizations.
Authorities allege the company's "sweepstakes" systems constitute illegal gambling devices by claiming to sell a lawful service as a means to induce people into gambling.
Howard Lederer Parties it Up in Las Vegas as DOJ Now ‘Flush With Full Tilt Poker Money’
Wendeen H. Eolis of Poker Player Newspaper was the first to reveal that great news was on tap for those owed monies by Full Tilt Poker. She’s proven to be an excellent resource for the poker community.
On Thursday, Ms. Eolis reveals that the “face behind Full Tilt Poker” over the past several years, Howard Lederer, was seen partying it up in Las Vegas after the deal was made official.
Police on Hunt for Londonderry Armed Robber Who Entered Bookmaker Brandishing Baton
Police in Londonderry want the public’s assistance in finding an armed robber who reportedly entered a Blucher Street area bookmaker brandishing a baton.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Shortly after 5.40pm a man, carrying a baton entered the premises and demanded money from a member of staff.
“The man smashed a number of television screens in the premises before making off empty handed. No-one was injured during the incident. The man is described as being approximately 5’8” tall and wearing a black jacket and blue jeans.
Montana Man Charged With Running Internet Gambling Website
BILLINGS, Mont. (Associated Press) A man with a 2003 conviction for running an illegal bookmaking business out of a Billings card room is now charged with helping people access an illegal Internet gambling site.
The Billings Gazette reports John Fischer pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of operating an illegal gambling enterprise.
Former Mobster Claims Gambino Crime Family Ties to Jerry Sandusky, Other Child Porn Deviants
A one time child associate of the Mob claims that sick photos depicting child sexual encounters with older men were once developed at a photo studio used as a front by the Gambino Crime Family.
Book on Absolute Poker to be Written by Ben Mezrich (Video)
Appearing on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box” Wednesday, author Ben Mezrich revealed he is writing a book about Absolute Poker, an online poker site caught up in a series of indictments last year.
The author of “Bringing Down The House” and “The Accidental Billionaires” sure will have plenty of material to work with. In addition to last year’s indictments that resulted in the ultimate shutdown of Absolute Poker and its sister site, UB.com, the online poker room was once embroiled in an “insider cheating scandal” that would later be profiled by the CBS news magazine show “60 Minutes”.
Nevada Regulators Investigating Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Corp re Bribery Charges
Nevada gaming regulators are reportedly looking into whether Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp broke stringent bribery laws through its dealings in the Asian gambling Mecca of Macau.
High Stakes Poker Playing Monks Fined Two Million Won
SEOUL — (AFP) - A South Korean court said Friday it has fined two Buddhist monks for illegal gambling, after video footage of their high-stakes poker game sparked a scandal in religious circles.
The Seoul Central District Court Thursday fined the monks from the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist order, two million won ($1,775) each.
"The court only ordered fines because they showed remorse for what they had done," a court spokeswoman told AFP.
Clinkville: Facebook Online Poker Players Ask for Leniency, Face 7 Months in Prison
11 poker players in Jakarta, Indonesia have been charged with playing online poker via Facebook, with each facing up to 7 months behind bars for their crime.
Online chips were transferred during the commission of the crime. The chips are deemed to be “virtual cash” since Facebook does not permit real money gambling in Indonesia.
The seven poker players were identified as: Kesuma Wijaya Sidauruk; M Nasir, aka Aldo; Eman, aka Liang Sun; Hendry, aka A Hen; Haris Pratama Putra; A Seng, aka M. Ikhsan; and M. Zulfikar.
Former Philadelphia Mayor's Daughter, 15 Others Charged with Running Massive Bookie Biz
Federal prosecutors claim to have broken up a massive bookmaking business based in suburban Philadelphia that spanned beyond state borders into New Jersey, Florida and Costa Rica.
Philadelphia Mob ‘Capo’ Pleads Guilty: Won’t Turn Rat in Joseph Ligambi Trial
A Philadelphia Mob lieutenant, Martin “Marty” Angelina, 50, has plead guilty to racketeering but has refused to cooperate in the fall trial of alleged crime family boss Joseph Ligambi.
Angelina admitted to operating illegal poker machines at the First Ward Republican Club in South Philadelphia and using extortionist tactics to collect a $6700 debt. He faces up to five years in prison as part of the plea deal.
Connecticut Bookie Pleads Guilty to Alleged Mob Connected Website 44Wager.com
A New Haven bookie, Michael Pepe, 33, has plead guilty in a federal court Monday to two counts of operating an illegal online sports betting business with alleged ties to the Gambino crime family.
Imprisoned Poker Pro Ernie Scherer III Beats UFC On Fox 4 With 48 Hours Mystery Repeat
The re-airing of a “48 Hours Mystery” episode on the Ernie Scherer III bludgeoning of his parents in 2008 managed to beat “UFC On Fox 4” in the Saturday night ratings.
Macau Raids Casinos After Deadly Attacks on Guests
Macau police in operation with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities raided a number of casinos and hotels during the late night and early morning hours of August 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) in what is being codenamed “Operation Thunderbolt”.
The raid follows a series of murders and attacks targeting tourists. 1300 people have been questioned and 150 of those detained as a result of the investigation.
48 Hours Mystery Profiles Ernie Scherer III Murder Case Saturday Night
A repeat of the “48 Hours Mystery” story on poker player Ernie Scherer III murder case airs Saturday evening (August 3, 2012) at 10 pm EDT on CBS.
Scherer III was sentenced for brutally murdering his parents in their Alameda, California home in 2008 in order to obtain an inheritance. The younger Scherer was said to have owed significant gambling debts.
Congressman John Tierney May Face Ethics Probe in Connection to ‘Bookie-Gate’
Eight-term Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to fight for his political career after it was revealed that three nonpartisan open-government groups want the Democrat investigated by the House Committee on Ethics.
Tierney is accused of failing to publicly disclose more than $200,000 that his wife received while managing a bank account with money that came from her brother’s illegal gambling business.
Man Pleads Guilty in Philadelphia Mob Case Involving Gambling
PHILADELPHIA – (Associated Press) - A man charged in a Philadelphia mob case has pleaded guilty in federal court.
Federal prosecutors say 59-year-old Gaeton Lucibello pleaded guilty Thursday to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving extortion and illegal gambling. Authorities say he admitted that he assisted in shaking down a bookmaker for "street tax" payments and operated two illegal video poker machine businesses.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.
Courier Mail: Daniel Tzvetkoff Would Have Been Better Off Going to Jail
In a very well written article by Paul Toohey of the Courier Mail, the question is raised as to whether online poker payment processing “Wiz Kid” Daniel Tzvetkoff would have been better off spending a year or two behind bars as opposed to “snitching”.
Screwed: Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Corp 'Prostitution Strategy' Docs Under Scrutiny
Former Sands CEO Steven Jacobs alleges that casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his company, the Las Vegas Sands, engaged in all kinds of illegal activities in Macau, the most notable being a Chinese “prostitution strategy”.
CNBC: Sheldon Adelson Casino Probed in ‘Prostitution Probe’
Casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Casino in Macau is reportedly under investigation by the local Chinese Government according to a CNBC report.
The company reportedly transferred documents linked to a wrongful dismissal case to the United States from Macau.
Full Tilt Poker Exec Nelson Burtnick Out on Bail: Absolute Poker Players Hopeful
At almost the exact time Full Tilt Poker executive Nelson Burtnick landed at Newark Liberty Airport on United Airline flight 23 from Dublin to 10:58 am (July 31, 2012), the US Justice Department confirmed Friday’s report on Gambling911.com that a settlement agreement had been reached between Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars whereby all players would be paid back monies owed.
Breaking News: US Government to Take Control of Absolute Poker Assets
The US Government on Tuesday July 31, 2012 requested that the Court grant custody of all Absolute Poker assets. Presumably players would be paid at least a partial amount of monies owed provided they filed an action with the US Justice Department.
US Attorney in the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara filed the motion.
Case 1:11-cv-02564-LBS on PACER:
Full Tilt Poker Defendant Nelson Burtnick on Plane Heading to NYC: Expected to be Arrested
A second defendant associated with the so-called “Black Friday” indictment against shuttered online poker firm Full Tilt Poker, Nelson Burtnick, is on a plane heading to New York City, Gambling911.com has confirmed Tuesday morning. Burtnick is expected to be arrested upon his arrival.
Burtnick is on United Airline flight 23 from Dublin to Newark! Landing at 10:58 (July 31, 2012).
Defendant in ‘Black Friday’ Online Poker Case Gets 3 Years Prison Sentence
A defendant involved in processing millions of dollars in payments for three online poker rooms in the US has been sentenced to three years prison.
Ira Rubin pleaded guilty in January to money laundering, bank fraud and other gambling offenses. He faced up to 55 years in prison, however, prosecutors recommended 18 to 24 months.
Rubin was indicted along with 10 others in April 2011. Four of those named in the indictment still remain at large.
Center Stage Casino in Alabama Raided
(Associated Press) - State and local law enforcement have raided Center Stage casino near Dothan and seized several hundred machines.
State Attorney General Luther Strange announced that his office worked with the Houston County sheriff and district attorney to serve a search warrant Wednesday morning that resulted from an ongoing investigation of illegal gambling.
Feds Say Georgia Casino Boat Allowed Illegal Gambling
Russ Bynum, Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- (Associated Press) - Federal prosecutors say the owners of a Savannah-based casino boat owe the government nearly $7 million earned from illegal gambling in state waters off Georgia and South Carolina.
An indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court charges the general manager of Diamond Casino and two of his boat captains with operating an illegal gambling business. Prosecutors say Diamond Casino's cruise boat routinely allowed gambling in state waters between July 2010 and last November.
