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- Man posing as a ruthless bookie indicted on three felony charges after threatening man with gun to head
- Ray Batista is accused of working on behalf of so-called “Sports Handicapper to the Stars” Adam Meyer
- Meyer started to cry and said bookie demanded $10 million from him
- Batista is looking at a minimum of seven years behind bars for brandishing a firearm
A Florida man accused for sticking a head to a Fond du Lac, Wisconsin liquor magnate has been indicted on three felony charges this week.
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Authorities claim that Ray Batista flew from Florida to Wisconsin to demand $10 million from Gary Sadoff, the owner of Badger Liquor Co. Inc., Wisconsin’s largest liquor distributor.
Batista allegedly did so on behalf of “Sports Handicapper to the Stars” Adam Meyer, a Fort Lauderdale resident.
According to the indictment, Meyer told Sadoff, his client, he owed a debt to a ruthless bookie named Kent Wong and that Wong mistook the Wisconsin man for Meyer’s partner.
That ruthless bookie turned out to be Meyer himself. The indictment further alleges that Meyer would call Sadoff and threaten him into making further payments.
Sadoff conveyed to investigators that during the meeting in Sadoff's car, "Meyer started to cry and said that he needed $10 million," according to an affidavit by Michael DelGiudice, a U.S. postal inspector.
Batista then reportedly climbed into the back seat of the car.
Sadoff "believed that the person in the back seat was pointing the gun at him for the whole meeting," DelGiudice wrote, referring to Sadoff only as "Victim A."
Shortly afterward, Sadoff wired $9.8 million to accounts controlled by Meyer. Batista told authorities that Meyer paid him $200,000.
Batista could testify against Meyer, though prosecutors say this was highly unlikely. He could be looking at a minimum seven years behind bars just for brandishing a firearm. Batista is also charged with extortion.
"That's a lot of incentive to make you want to better your situation," Cubbie said. "The U.S. Attorney (Office) is a master at getting people to cooperate."
Meyer is being held without bond and scheduled to go on trial in Milwaukee federal court next month.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
