Art Dealer Helly Nahmad Spotted for First Time Following Release From Prison
Billionaire art dealer Helly Nahmad has been spotted for the first time since serving a brief stint for his role in a high stakes $100 million gambling operation with ties to the Russian Mob.
Nahmad ducked for cover as the New York Post took pics of the international playboy returning to his chauffeur-driven Mercedes outside the posh West Village hot spot Da Silvano. The 36-year-old was hanging out with 1Oak co-owner Richie Akiva, sources told The Post.
Nahmad is not entirely free. He needs to return back to a seedy Bronx halfway house by midnight as part of his release agreement.
The 36-year-old Nahmad was one of 33 charged in a sweeping racketeering case involving a Russian-based online gambling venture reportedly funded by Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, who is described by prosecutors as a “made member” of a Russian organized-crime gang known as the Taiwanchik-Trincher Organization.” The indictment alleged that Tokhtakhounov acted as a "protector" for the group.
In addition to the high stakes poker games, the group operated a massive sports betting ring out of the Ukraine and Russia with the indictment claiming that funds were laundered in the US via bank accounts located in Cyprus.
Nahmad served just five months of a thirteen month sentence, presumably released for good behavior.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
