Crime
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.
Richard Tisei Could Become First Openly Gay Republican in Congress With Tierney Loss
One of the more interesting outcomes of a John Tierney loss in Massachusetts could be that the first ever openly gay Republican gets elected to Congress. And Tierney’s job is far from secure following ongoing allegations he knew of his two brother-in-laws “illegal” gambling business based in Antigua.
Absolute Poker Exec Brent Beckley Gets 14 Month Prison Sentence
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An owner of Absolute Poker, one of the three largest Internet poker companies, was sentenced to 14 months in prison on Monday after admitting to deceiving banks over the processing of gambling proceeds.
Brent Beckley, 32, joined Costa Rica-based Absolute Poker in 2003 and became its head of payment processing. Last December, he pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiring to break U.S. laws against gambling on the Internet. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud.
John Tierney Claims Challenged Court Order Comforted Him re Relative’s Gambling Biz
Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to insist he had no idea his relatives were involved in an illegal gambling ring, citing a court order allowing his brother-in-law Robert Eremian to return to the Caribbean in 2002 to serve as a software consultant to a legal offshore betting operation.
Macau Murder Spate Worrisome as Growth Slows in Casino Mecca
HONG KONG (Reuters) - In Macau, three murders in the past two weeks have raised fears that violent crime is growing more common at the same time as the island's casino operators are struggling with slower growth.
Mass Congressman John F. Tierney Under Fire for Dining at Antiguan Bookie’s Home
“Dinner at my wife’s brother’s house. I don’t think that people would think that’s extraordinary,” Massachusetts Congressman John F. Tierney said at a recent news conference.
That is unless your brother-in-law just happens to be Bobby Eremian, one of the first men to set up an offshore sports betting company on the island of Antigua where Tierney and his wife were invited guests.
South Carolina Man Arrested for Killing Wife, Gambling Associate
Columbia, S.C. – (Associated Press) - Investigators say they have charged a man with killing his wife and his colleague in a gambling business in his upscale suburban Columbia home.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said 42-year-old Brett Parker turned himself in Friday after two murder charges were filed more than three months after the killings.
Lott says Parker shot his 44-year-old wife, Tammy, then picked up another gun and shot 46-year-old Brian Capnerhurst on April 13. Arrest warrants say Parker then tried to make it look like he was being robbed.
BetED.com Head Gets 2 Years Probation in ‘Blue Monday’ Online Gambling Conviction
Darren Wright, the 43-year-old head of now defunct online gambling outfit BetED.com, has been given two years probation for his role in running the establishment.
Wright was charged with bank fraud and aiding and abetting in regard to running an illegal gambling operation.
Former Arizona Legislator Convicted in Casino Gambling Scheme Charged with Impersonating Son
SAN DIEGO – (Associated Press) - California prosecutors say a former Arizona legislator who went to prison in a 1990 corruption scandal used his son's identity to get a California ID card and real estate license so he could work as a broker and teach a real estate class.
U-T San Diego reported Thursday that Don Kenney has been charged with five felonies including perjury, forgery and impersonating his son, a Washington state attorney.
Defendant in ‘Blue Monday’ Online Gambling Indictment Sentencing Sealed
No word yet on the fate of Darren Wright, the 43-year-old head of defunct online gambling company BetED.com and ThrillX.
Wright was caught up in a sting operation organized by the US Attorneys Office in Baltimore resulting in charges of money laundering and aiding and abetting of an online gambling business back in May of last year. The investigation took place over a nearly two-year period.
Alleged Casino Cheaters Headed to Court in Ohio
CLEVELAND - (Associated Press) — Prosecutors say they have compelling video evidence against the first suspected casino cheaters in Ohio.
Seven men have been indicted in Cleveland on illegal gambling charges and six are due in court Wednesday morning. The seventh was arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty.
Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County Prosecutor Bill Mason says he will show surveillance video from the new Horseshoe casino if any case goes to trial. In his words, "It's not going to be difficult to figure out what they are doing."
BetED.com Head Darren Wright Arraigned Monday
A defendant caught up in a Maryland US Attorney online gambling sting operation has been arraigned. Update: Sentencing was under seal.
