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A Florida man with alleged Mob ties is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday (October 9, 2013) to a federal money-laundering charge tied to a multi-state and international sports betting ring said to have made close to a billion dollars over the past decade.
Philip Gurian, 52, of Boca Raton, was one of nearly three dozen individuals charged last April for his connection to Panama-based Legends Sports. The reputed mobster is said to have collected and distributed wagering funds within the US on behalf of some 40 to 50 sports betting operations.
Gurian, described as a “master agent” is also believed to have raked in around $150,000 a day in gambling.
Gurian's history, according to the Albany Times Union, includes a 2004 stock scam conviction in Florida alongside Philip Abramo, a captain in the New Jersey-based DeCavalcante crime family.
The Times Union also notes that court documents show Gurian (AKA “Florida Phil”) as having worked on behalf of gambling rings in New York, Boston, New Hampshire, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Texas, California and Las Vegas — as well as the United Kingdom, Jamaica, Russia, Holland, Mexico and Panama. The New Hampshire and Jamaica connections are tied to long established Olympic Sports, now known as TheGreek.com. That offshore betting company’s owner, Spiro Athanas, was also among those nabbed back in April.
Gurian was caught on federal wiretaps tied to Skype conversations with a Panama City, Panama operative, who was also charged with money laundering.
Others charged for their role in the gambling ring included Legends Sports founder Luke King and two Albany County corrections officers, both of whom have since plead guilty.
Gambling911.com confirmed that a former employee of Legends had tipped off the Feds after he was fired for theft.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
