FBI Names Poker Hostess Molly Bloom, Others in Massive Gambling Ring Raid

Feds released the names of poker players connected to an investigation into a Russian organized crime ring that held high stakes poker games.

FBI agents arrested several people Tuesday in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and elsewhere as part of the investigation.  Federal agents also searched a Madison Avenue art gallery located within the prestigious Carlyle Hotel.

In addition to the poker players, Hollywood celebrities and Wall Street power players were also tied to the poker games.

The gambling ring was reportedly financed 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 alleges 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. 

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Molly Bloom, a woman with ties to notorious Hollywood celebrity high stakes poker games, is also among those named in the indictment.  Correction:  While named in the indictment, Bloom is yet to actually be charged, as was suggested in a report on Gambling911.com earlier.  Bloom is supposed to have a memoire out some time this year. 

Other players named in the indictment included WSOP Bracelet winner Bill “The Stunning One” Edler, Peter “Nordberg” Feldman, Justin Smith and John Hanson.

WSOP bracelet winner and PokerStars regular Abe Mosseri was also named.  He has amassed over $1 million in career live tournaments, winning his gold bracelet at the 2008 World Series of Poker.

These indictments come just days after 34 other individuals were charged for running a multi-billion dollar sports betting ring inside the US with ties to Panama.

More on this indictment can be found here.

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher