Crime
SBOBet.com Center of Paul Phua World Cup Betting Probe: Not Guilty Pleas Entered
Poker pro Paul Phua and his son Darren appeared in a federal court on Tuesday to answer to charges they ran an illegal gambling business out of the $25k a night Caesars Palace villas via the popular Asian handicapping betting site SBOBet.com. Phua and six others are set to be arraigned on August 7. The father-son-tandem may be deported back to their native Malaysia. Both men pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
Congressman Chaka Fattah Son Indicted for Bank Fraud, Used Funds for Gambling
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — The son of Philadelphia congressman Chaka Fattah has been indicted and charged with bank fraud, tax evasion and misspending federal education funds.
The federal indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses Chaka Fattah Jr. of lying about his income to obtain more than $200,000 in business loans he then spent on personal expenses, gambling debts and legal fees.
He is also charged with inflating expenses related to federal funds he received for a charter school program for at-risk students.
Denver Bookies and BarBets App Now Available at Local Sports Bars
If you are a bookie in the Denver area, you’ll want to check out RiNo Beer Garden, Highland Tavern, Occidental and Whiskey Tango Fox Trot in 2024. It was just a decade ago that the BarBets app was introduced to patrons to place wagers on various sporting events. Back then, sports betting was not regulated in Colorado. Today it is.
Convicted Mobster Hobbles With Cane but Caught on Video in Physical Altercation
Mobster Richard Riccardi has complained of excruciating pain from a hip tumor, requiring the use of a cane. But in an exclusive report from the New York Daily News, the convicted murderer and Mob goon's "unceasing pain" did little to prevent him from getting into two different altercations, both occurring while behind bars while awaiting sentencing.
Canadian Police Refuse to Identify Paddy Power Hacker: 649,000 Accounts Breached
Ontario authorities this week stated they will not be releasing the name of an individual said to have hacked some 649,000 customer accounts at Paddy Power, the UK’s third largest bookmaker.
Rhode Island, Providence Bookies Going Down in Latest Shakedown
Rhode Island is the latest state that is proving to be inhospitable to bookies.
On Friday, August 1, it was announced that a state grand jury had returned indictments in connection to an alleged sports betting ring operating in the northern part of the state.
Ireland Government Blasts Paddy Power Failure to Expose Breach
Government officials in Ireland have slammed that country’s largest bookmaker for failing to alert the public regarding a massive data breach that occurred in October 2010. News of the breach only became known on Thursday (July 31, 2014), nearly four years later.
Amicus Brief Filed By Bitcoin Foundation in Miami Criminal Case
The Bitcoin Foundation announced Thursday afternoon that they have filed an amicus brief with respect to a criminal case surrounding bitcoin transactions in the state of Florida and more specifically a case involving two subjects arrested last February in Miami Beach.
Paddy Power Suffers Massive Data Breach: More Than 649,000 Customers Compromised
More than 649,000 customers of the UK’s third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, have had their personal information stolen, it was revealed on Thursday. Of those, approximately 120,000 are based in Ireland.
No customers who signed up after 2010 are impacted by the breach.
Five Arrested for Brazen Atlantic City Casino Robbery: Former Guard Among Them
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — Authorities say a former security officer and four other people stole more than $180,000 from security workers during an armed robbery at an Atlantic City casino earlier this month.
‘Hoffa’ Producer Joe Isgro Linked to Mob-Run Gambling Ring: Pleads Not Guilty
(Associated Press) - He's been one of the nation's most influential record promoters, the producer of an Oscar-nominated movie, a defendant who successfully fought racketeering charges in a high-profile payola case, and an admitted loan shark who shook down borrowers in ritzy Beverly Hills.
Now the roller-coaster life of Joe Isgro is taking another plunge, with new charges that he helped run a mob-linked gambling operation.
Sentencing of Greenville Man Highlights South Carolina Zero Tolerance of Bookies, Gambling
The conviction and subsequent sentencing of a Greenville, South Carolina man this week charged with illegal gambling highlights that state’s policy towards eradicating the activity whether it be in the form of bookmaking, poker or video gaming machines.
Poker Pro Paul Phua Ambassadorship to Montenegro Revoked After Arrest
A poker pro arrested for operating a World Cup betting ring out of a Las Vegas resort was San Marino’s ambassador to the city state of Montenegro for three years before having that status revoked due to the allegations lodged against him.
Pinnacle Sports Alleged Owner Stanley Tomchin Pleads Guilty to Minor Charge
This morning the 29th of July 2014, the criminal prosecution of Stanley Tomchin – featuring an indictment charging Mr. Tomchin with 56 separate felonies – ended quietly with an agreed upon plea to a minor offense with a sentence involving no incarceration or even probation supervision.
Poker Pro Paul Phua and Son Released by ICE After Ivey Bailout
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released the father-son tandem of Paul and Darren Phua late Monday after poker pros Phil Ivey and Andrew Robl posted their initial $2.5 million bail. Both had initially been charged with running an elaborate World Cup betting operation from a swank Las Vegas resort. ICE had immediately taken them back into custody upon their release and threatened deportation back to Malaysia.
Pope Hits Out at Mafia Once Again
Pope Francis called for nature to be protected from criminal abuse on Saturday during a visit in the southern Italian town of Caserta, near Naples, in a region long blighted by illegal toxic waste dumps and the pervasive grip of the Camorra mafia.
During a televised open air Mass before around 200,000 people, Pope Francis said that the love of God meant respecting life, the environment and nature.
Phil Ivey, Andrew Robl Post $2.5 Million Bail for Paul and Darren Phua: Still Jailed
Phil Ivey this past weekend posted a portion of the $2.5 million in cash needed to bail out fellow poker pros, the father-and-son tandem of Wei Seng “Paul” Phua and Darren Phua. Both men remained jailed heading into Monday however. Another poker pro, Andrew Robl, contributed $1.5 million of the $2.5 million bail.
Man Who Forced Sunwing Flight Back to Toronto had Gambling Problem
A man arrested for making terroristic threats on board a Sunwing flight from Toronto to Panama City, Panama, has been let out on bail on $1000 bond.
Convicted Casino Lobbyist Questions Rick Perry Online Gambling Stance
The biggest casino lobbyist and an individual who served time for that activity, Jack Abramoff, has spoken out regarding Texas Governor Rick Perry’s stance on Internet gambling.
Professional Sports Bettor Billy Walters Auctions Off Sprawling Estate
One of the world’s most famous sports bettors, Billy Walters, is auctioning off his 21,000 square-foot home in Rancho Santa Fe, California next month without a reserve price.
The home, located at 5425 Los Mirlitos, features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, three half bathrooms, a tennis court, putting green and, of course, a swimming pool. It had previously been listed at just shy of $20 million.
Two Suspects Wanted in Armed Heist of Atlantic City Casino
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J (Associated Press) - Police are seeking two masked suspects who robbed an Atlantic City casino at gunpoint and made off with more than $180,000.
The heist occurred Monday morning at Caesars Atlantic City.
A law enforcement flier obtained by The Press of Atlantic City says the suspects fled in a car with two plastic boxes containing more than $180,000 in cash.
Police are not releasing any details.
Can You Believe This? Manhunt Follows Gambler’s False Stabbing Claim
A man who fell on a can and slit himself outside a South Wales bookmaker appeared in court where a judge decided his fate.
No, tripping over a can is not a crime.
Calling 999 to say you were stabbed is.
Vanek Cooperating With Feds in Gambling Probe
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – (Associated Press) - Minnesota Wild left wing Thomas Vanek says he's cooperating with federal authorities conducting an investigation in Rochester.
Local media report that Vanek was at the federal courthouse in Rochester to speak with officials.While they wouldn't comment specifically what Vanek is helping with, multiple sources say the case involves a federal gambling probe.
Vanek recently signed a 3-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Online Gambling Ads Popping Up on Purported MH17 Crash Victim Facebook Pages
Scammers wasted no time in their attempt to cash in on the unfortunate victims of Malaysia Flight MH17, which crashed Thursday over the Ukraine after reportedly being shot down by a missile. All 298 passengers, most of them Dutch, were killed in the crash.
From the London Telegraph:
Disgraced Ex-Utah AG John Swallow Court Dates Set: Ties to Poker’s ‘Black Friday’
Former Attorneys General John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff are due to appear in court on on July 22 and 30, respectively, after the two men were charged last week with racketeering following a sweeping public corruption investigation.
Swallow faces 11 felonies and two misdemeanors, including a pattern of unlawful activity, receiving or soliciting a bribe, evidence tampering and making false statements.
One of Nevada Gambling Regulators Most Wanted Fugitives Arrested in PA
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Associated Press) - One of the fugitives most wanted by Nevada gambling regulators has been arrested across the country at a Pennsylvania casino.
The Express-Times reports 40-year-old Jubreal Chahine was spotted Saturday afternoon at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem.
State police took Chahine into custody without incident after being alerted by Sands employees.
Mounting Gambling Debts Provide Motive for Indianapolis Deadly Explosion
INDIANAPOLIS (Associated Press) — Prosecutors have filed court documents indicating that mounting gambling and credit card debt were the motive behind a deadly explosion that devastated an Indianapolis neighborhood in 2012.
Monserrate Shirley, her then-boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother, Bob Leonard, face charges of murder, arson and conspiracy to commit arson in the Nov. 10, 2012, blast that killed two of Shirley’s neighbors and wrecked dozens of houses in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the city’s far south side.
WSEX.com Founder Jay Cohen Assets Sought Ahead of Possible Lawsuit
Gambling911.com intrepid reporter Thomas Somach has learned that an Ohio man who plans to sue now defunct World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) founder Jay Cohen for almost $70,000 owed plans to hire an investigative team to locate the ex-convict’s assets believed to be hidden around the world.
Cohen served nearly two years behind bars for his role in running World Sports Exchange. Last year, co-owner Steven Schillinger gave new meaning to the term “deadbeat” when he blew his brains out, at the time owing countless numbers of customers well over a million dollars.
Poker Player Paul Phua Among Those Charged in World Cup Betting Scheme
A high-stakes poker player, Paul Phua, was among the eight men charged this week with running an elaborate World Cup betting ring out of Las Vegas.
A criminal complaint detailed the scheme to take bets over WiFi and DSL lines they had casino employees install in their suites at Caesars Palace.
According to the Department of Justice press release:
Romanian Princess Pleads in Cockfighting Case
(Associated Press) - Romanian princess Irina Walker pleaded guilty Wednesday to operating an illegal gambling business in connection with a cockfighting enterprise in rural Oregon.
