Crime
Underground Hidden Cave Contained Gambling Machines, Ammo
FRESNO, Calif. – (Associated Press) - A domestic violence call at a Central California home led police to a hidden underground cave where two men were hiding from police.
The Fresno Bee reports that late Saturday police responded to a call at a home after someone reported a fight between a man and a woman in southeast Fresno.
Officers found a woman and children crying outside the home.
Bitcoin-Only Online Poker Room Seals With Clubs Closes After ‘Sledgehammer’ Raid
The largest of the Bitcoin-only online poker rooms, Seals With Clubs, has unceremoniously closed its doors following a raid of CEO Bryan Micon’s Nevada home.
Former Austrian Tennis Star Investigated for Match Fixing
IENNA – (Associated Press) - Public prosecutors in Austria have opened an investigation into an alleged attempt to fix the result of a top-flight football match involving SV Ried in the 2007-08 season.
Prosecutor Alois Ebner tells the Austria Press Agency on Wednesday they are looking into claims made last week by Ried coach Oliver Glasner, who was the team's captain seven years ago.
Lucy Beale ‘Killer’ Pays Out 80-1 Odds if Billy Mitchell: Suspicious Betting
An unlikely suspect in the murder of Lucy Beale could end up paying some folks 80-1 odds.
UK bookmaker Paddy Power slashed those odds to 6-1 following a series of suspicious bets placed out of Ireland. Other bookies, including Boyle Sports, and Ladbrokes, quickly followed suit.
Who Killed Lucy Beale: Bookies Offer Odds as Money Comes in on Billy Mitchell
The big question throughout all the UK this week: Who killed Lucy Beale? The bookies have posted their odds with Billy Mitchell as the 3-1 favorite after being as long as 80-1.
Lucy Beale, a character on EastEnders, was killed one year ago this week and the 30-year-old British soap is marking the occasion (their 30th anniversary) by finally revealing her killer on Thursday.
Manhattan Firm With Government Contracts Hired Convicted Mobster
A New York City firm with $45 million in city and state contracts was found to have employed a convicted mobster charged with killing a man and his dog in 1992. The firm failed to disclose the hiring and is currently conducting an internal investigation of its own.
Two New Counts Against Bonanno Mobster Suspected in 1978 JFK Heist
A one time high ranking member of the Bonanno Crime Family suspected in a 1978 heist at JFK Airport has received two additional undisclosed charges against him.
8 Arrested in South Florida for Running Sports Betting Ring Tied to Mob
A multi-million dollar sports betting ring with ties to the Genovese Crime family has been busted by Broward County Police in South Florida.
Eight men were arrested as a result of the investigation, including a 66-year-old grandfather.
Criminal Probe of Christie-Adelson Relationship, PokerStars Runaround Possible
New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie is being accused of preventing the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars, from entering into a deal with Atlantic City’s Resorts Hotel and Casino and his relationship with casino mogul and GOP mega donor is being cited as the reason why.
PokerStars made plans to open a $10 million poker room at the Resorts Casino back in June 2013.
Chipleader Arrested at Final Table of Fallsview Poker Classic Event
We can’t make this stuff up and PokerNews Canada somehow managed to obtain video proof of the chipleader at this week’s Final Table of the Fallswview Poker Classic event being placed under arrest…..while the event was underway.
FINRA Investigation Into Amaya, PokerStars Acquisition Could Scare Off US Suitors
PokerStars had hoped to potentially enter the U.S. regulated online poker market through an acquisition by Canadian gaming firm Amaya. Those hopes could soon be dashed with fears over an ongoing investigation into last year’s blockbuster acquisition being conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Casino, Online Poker Owner Charged With Attempted Murder: Blew Up Attorney’s Car
A Canadian businessman has been charged with attempting to murder an attorney in the Dominican Republic. The Lawyer, Fernando Arturo Baez Guerrero, had been hired by Antonio Carbone to run his troubled casinos on the Caribbean island.
Chinese Casino Operator, Former Mining Exec Executed
Philly Mobster Anthony Nicodemo Pleads Guilty in Shooting Death
Reputed Philadelphia mobster, Anthony Nicodemo, has plead guilty in the December 2012 shooting death of Gino DiPietro.
"Yes," he told Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart. "No," he said. "Guilty," he said three times.
Poker Pro, Instagram King Dan Bilzerian to Record TSA Spot Following Gun Incident
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – (Associated Press) - Poker professional and Internet playboy Dan Bilzerian and a pal capitalized on Bilzerian's substantial Instagram following Friday to avoid prosecution on felony explosives charges in Las Vegas.
Tentative Trial Date Set in FBI Ruse Case Concerning Poker Pro
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - A federal magistrate judge in Nevada set a tentative trial date in a closely watched case alleging that casino high-rollers set up an illegal Internet gambling ring in their Las Vegas Strip suite.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys argued procedural matters Friday, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen acknowledged that an April 13 target date may not stand.
The case is headed to a U.S. District Court judge.
PA Teacher Stole Nearly $200K From Union to Fuel Gambling Addiction
GIBSONIA, Pa. (Associated Press) -- A business teacher has been charged with stealing $175,000 he blew on lottery tickets and at casinos while serving as treasurer of his union at suburban Pittsburgh school district.
Defense attorney Christopher Thomas says 44-year-old Edward Maritz Jr. is taking responsibility for the crimes because his "conscience caught up to him."
Maritz is on sabbatical from the Pine-Richland School District.
Can I Bet on the Aaron Hernandez Trial Online?
While many folks would love to bet on the Aaron Hernandez murder trial, none of the online bookmakers are offering such odds at this time.
Judge Finds Evidence Tainted in Poker Pro Paul Phua Case: FBI in the Wrong
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Undercover FBI and Nevada regulatory agents misled a federal judge and violated the rights of a wealthy Malaysian businessman and his son by posing as Internet repairmen to get into Las Vegas Strip hotel rooms in a gambling probe last summer, a U.S. magistrate judge said.
FanDuel Sued: Daily Fantasy Sports and the Start of Class Action Season
While billions of dollars of sports betting continues in the shadowy world of illegal off-shore sports books, the fantasy sports business has been on fire. And as fantasy sports becomes the new hot “thing” online, it has continued to evolve: Dozens of companies are entering the market to offer everything thing from the increasingly common single day fantasy contests to the stock market-like contest offered by recent arrival. Throughout the explosion of interest, two companies – FanDuel and Draft Kings have remained the behemoths of the industry.
Online Gambling, Marijuana Ring Busted in Oregon
US federal authorities have taken down an online gambling ring operating out of four Oregon counties. Raids were conducted Wednesday morning in a number of towns including the state’s largest city of Portland.
Report: Poker Pro Paul Phua Was Convicted in Malaysia
The South China Morning Post is reporting that poker pro Paul Phua was previously convicted in 2004 for his alleged involvement in an illegal betting scheme during the European Championship soccer tournament.
Germany Targets Online Gamblers: Fines Man €65,000
A 25-year-old German blackjack player has been fined €65,000 for patronizing a Gibraltar-based site that holds a United Kingdom license. The player in question had amassed €201,500 in winnings this past summer.
Poker Staking Could Be in Trouble in Nevada With New Bill Introduced
A new bill in Nevada could threaten staking deals in poker.
SB 40 aims to reduce money laundering in sports betting but the impact could be felt among poker players who depend on the deals to hedge high variances experienced during live tournaments.
From PokerFuse.com:
Malaise in Malaysia as Government Officials Clash Over Phua FBI Letters
It just keeps getting uglier in the world of Malaysian politics as it pertains to millionaire businessman and poker pro Paul Phua.
PA Drilling Exec Faces 7 Years Behind Bars for Embezzling $9 Mil to Gamble
A one-time chief operating officer for a Western Pennsylvania drilling company is facing more than seven years behind bars when he is sentenced for embezzlement Friday.
Fifty-four-year-old Larry Dean Winckler pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and income tax fraud in February and was to be sentenced in July but the sentencing was then delayed for more than six months.
Judge Drafts Decision in Phau Case Involving FBI ‘Cable Repair’ Ruse: Appeal Likely
A federal judge says she will issue a ruling over the next few days as to whether it was illegal for undercover FBI agents to shut off Internet service and pose as cable repairmen in an effort infiltrate a global World Cup betting ring.
Sports Agent Drew Rosenhaus’ Wife Partied Hard With Dan Bilzerian Before Fight
A Sunday night altercation between sports mega agent Drew Rosenhaus and his estranged wife Lisa Thompson may have been spurred on by her hard partying with poker and Instagram Playboy Dan Bilzerian.
Police were called to the Rosenhaus Miami Beach residence Sunday night to calm the situation.
The New York Daily News obtained a copy of the police report.
Motorcycle Gang’s Existence Revolved Around Meth, Gambling, Prosecutors Claim
A Mount Clemens, Michigan national motorcycle gang, the Devil’s Diciples, is accused of running an elaborate meth, gambling, theft and violence ring. Six individuals have been charged and are currently standing trial in connection with the scheme. 35 others are named in a federal indictment and all are in custody.
DOJ Settles in Fake Facebook Case: All Eyes on Paul Phua Cable Tech Ruse
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has reached a $134,000 settlement with a New York woman after federal drug agents used information from her cellphone to set up a fake Facebook page in her identity, a tactic that raised privacy concerns and led to a federal government review of the ruse, according to court papers filed Tuesday.
