Crime
Ex-Bayern Chief Begins Three-and-a-Half Year Prison Term: Gambled on Markets
The former Bayern FC boos Uli Hoeness began serving his three-and-a-half year prison sentence for evading $28.5 million euros in taxes. The 62-year-old will serve time at a prison in Landsberg am Lech effective Monday (June 2).
Hoeness admitted to the tax evasion charges back in March. He was originally facing a sentence of between five and ten years.
"I'm glad that this is all out in the open now," Hoeness said in March. "I deeply regret my wrongdoing. I'm doing everything I can to put this unhappy chapter behind me."
Mickleson Says He Did Nothing Wrong: Cooperating in Probe Involving Billy Walters
Hall of Fame Golf pro Phil Mickelson confirmed to the Associated Press that FBI agents approached him at the Memorial Tournament in regard to an insider trading probe. Mickelson insisted Saturday he did “absolutely nothing wrong”.
FBI, SEC Probe Into Big Time Gambler Billy Walters, Carl Icahn, Phil Mickelson
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating possible insider trading involving billionaire investor Carl Icahn, golfer Phil Mickelson and Las Vegas gambler William Walters, a source familiar with the matter said.
Poker Player Defrauds Bank Out of A$100 Million: Faces 142 Charges
Professional poker player William Jordanou, 55, is accused of providing false documents to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in order to get about $100 million in loans with three other men. He faces 142 charges.
Jordanou was acting as a financial adviser to a Scoresby-based accounting firm between the years 2004 and 2013. He is alleged to have provided the bank with false tax documents, letters of employment and invoices.
His lawyer George Defteros asserted his client would strenuously fight the charges. ‘
Man Serving Time for Property Fraud Indicted for Running Sportsbook
A Minnesota man currently serving a four year prison sentence for property fraud has been charged with running an online sportsbook with servers based in Costa Rica.
Philadelphia Mobster Heading to Prison for Role in Illegal Gambling Business
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A man who authorities say worked for the Philadelphia mob is heading to prison for his role in an illicit video poker operation.
Forty-three-year-old Eric Esposito is described by federal prosecutors as a foot soldier of La Cosa Nostra. A judge sentenced him Wednesday to 27 months behind bars.
Online Poker Processor Rat Daniel Tzvetkoff Will Likely Avoid Prison
The man who brought down PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker’s businesses in the US is not likely to receive any jail time.
Racketeering Law Does Not Cover Online Gambling Losses in Arizona
PHOENIX (Associated Press) — A state court decision says people who voluntarily engage in online gambling can't use Arizona's anti-racketeering law to sue websites' operators to recover gambling losses.
The state Court of Appeals decision issued Thursday upholds a Maricopa County Superior Court judge's ruling against a man who had sued several operators of gambling websites after he lost $800,000.
The man's lawsuit alleged that the websites were an enterprise engaged in civil racketeering.
Man Driving to Collect Gambling Debt Goes Missing: No Show at Daughter’s Wedding
Police in Texas are investigating the disappearance of William P. Abel, 39, who was reported missing after he failed to show up for his daughter’s wedding the next day. Abel was to walk his daughter down the aisle.
Runner Up of 2011 WSOP Main Event Martin Stazko Was Target of Kidnap Plot
Czech poker pro Martin Staszko was the target of a kidnapping plot by a group of individuals suspected in the disappearance of two wealthy businessmen, it was revealed last week.
Bwin.Party Executives Acquitted in French Court
Bwin.party chief executive Norbert Teufelberger and the former co-CEO of bwin Manfred Bodner were acquitted in a French court on charges of violating Internet gambling laws in that country.
New Jersey Attorney General Denies Access to Online Gambling Affiliates
Online gambling affiliates, some of whom had already obtained their vendor licenses in the state of New Jersey, were dealt a serious blow by that state’s Attorney General last week. But it is actually the casinos themselves that will feel the most pain.
New Jersey Assistant Attorney General George N. Rover informed those affiliates of state licensed online casinos that they would be restricted from directly targeting NJ residents or visitors unless they removed all links and banners from offshore gambling sites still conducting business in the state.
Ex-NFL Player Charged With Illegal Gambling Busted Twice in One Week With Drugs
Former NFL player Rache Caldwell has been arrested for trying to sell the drug Molly.
Police had been monitoring Caldwell’s movements following his arrest just days prior for attempting to sell Ecstasy on the street.
And earlier this year he was arrested for running an illegal gambling ring.
Borgata Faces New Lawsuit in Counterfeit Poker Chip Scandal
Six poker players filed suit against Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino this week over prize money not paid when a tournament was cancelled due to the discovery of counterfeit chips.
Crime Gangs Laundering $140 Billion a Year Through Sports Betting Sites
(Reuters) - Criminals are using betting on sports events to launder $140 billion each year, a report said on Thursday, exposing a lack of effective regulation that allows match-fixing to spread.
Soccer and cricket were identified as the sports most threatened by criminals seeking to rig the gambling market but tennis, basketball, motor racing and badminton were also affected, according to the report, which is based on a two-year research.
Joran Van Der Sloot to Marry in Prison, Become a Father
Dutchman Joran van der Sloot’s lawyer Maximo Altez confirmed that the convicted killer is set to marry while serving a 28-year prison sentence and he will become a father.
Van der Sloot was convicted of killing a 21-year-old female Peruvian student he met in a Lima casino in 2010. He had been visiting Peru to follow the Latin American Poker Tour.
Michael Sam Boyfriend Dated Gay Porn Star: League “In Bed With Mobsters”
As if having a boyfriend whose family allegedly had mob ties were not enough, now there are reports that Michael Sam’s beau was once intimately involved with a gay porn star named Austin Wilde.
Sam was named Southeastern Conference Champion of the Year in 2013. He's now the first openly gay NFL player.
‘Tsunami of Corruption’ is Heading for Aussie Sports Warns Match-Fixing Expert
Journalist and corruption in sport expert Declan Hill has warned of a “tsunami of corruption” about to hit Australian sport.
He uttered the dire warning while addressing the second Victoria Police Integrity in Sport Symposium in Melbourne.
"The match fixing linked to the Asian gambling networks have destroyed most Asian sports.
"The sports fans of Asia, the gambling people, the fixers of Asia are now going to turn their attention to Australia."
Man Who Beheaded Exotic Bird at Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas Gets Probation
A University of California, Berkley law school graduate has been sentenced to probation after beheading an exotic bird at a Las Vegas casino in 2012.
Justin Teixeira received the four years of following a prison boot camp program.
His sentence also includes 16 hours a month of unpaid work at an animal shelter.
Teixeira pleaded guilty to beheading a rare 14-year-old helmeted guinea fowl while at the Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat.
Alcohol was involved in the crime.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
Michael Sam’s Boyfriend From Mob Family: Grandfather Stuffed Bodies in Sewers
It was the kiss seen around the world that everyone was talking about Monday – Michael Sam selected to the St. Louis Rams, then engaging in a kiss with his boyfriend on national television upon learning of the news.
Sam is officially the first openly gay player in the NFL. There was some question as to whether he would be selected in this year’s NFL Draft and he nearly wasn’t. Sam was one of the last picks.
Australian Casino Magnate James Packer Receives A$500 Fine for Brawl
Crown Resorts Ltd. Chairman James Packer has been fined A$500 for a May 4 street brawl near Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The other man involved in the altercation, Nine Entertainment’s CEO David Gyngell has also been fined the same amount.
Bookmaker Stan James Could be Charged With Crime Over Defacing of Heritage Site
The popular British bookmaker Stan James was reported to authorities for stenciled graffiti advertising the betting firm was found on the Roman walls of Chester, a Heritage site that has existed since 40 AD.
The company added the graffiti ahead of this weekend’s Chester Horse Racing Festival. The Chester council has accused Stan James of a “Heritage Crime”.
Another Man Tied to Russian-Mob Connected Gambling Ring Sentenced
NEW YORK — (Associated Press) - A man who ran an illegal sports gambling operation with a Manhattan art gallery owner has been sentenced to six months in prison.
Illya Trincher was ordered to forfeit $6.4 million in illegal profits. The 28-year-old also ordered to six months of house arrest after completing his prison sentence.
The scheme catered to billionaires in New York and Hollywood.
Last week, his father, Adam Trincher, was sentenced to a five-year sentence in a related scheme.
The Manhattan dealer, Hillel Nahmad was sentenced to one year in prison.
Police Investigate Brawl Involving Australian Casino Magnate James Packer
(Reuters) - Police are investigating a public brawl between James Packer, one of Australia's richest men, and a television executive, which could jeopardise regional expansion plans for Packer's casino business if it leads to a criminal conviction.
The fight on Sunday between Crown Resorts Ltd Executive Chairman Packer and David Gyngell, chief executive of Nine Entertainment Group, left Packer with a black eye and a bruised reputation after photographs of the violence were published around the world.
NFL Great Joe Montana Contacted by FBI Over San Francisco Corruption Case
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that former San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana has been contacted by the FBI in connection with a corruption sting.
Poker Book ‘Alligator Blood’ to be Made Into Movie: ‘Rat’ Tzvetkoff to the Big Screen
The James Leighton book “Alligator Blood” will be heading to the big screen, it was revealed Monday.
Former Nuke Commander Reprimanded in Counterfeit Poker Chips Case
WASHINGTON (Associated Press) — The Navy says the admiral who was fired last fall as the No. 2 commander of U.S. nuclear forces has been reprimanded and fined for violating the military's code of conduct but allowed to remain on duty as a Navy staff officer.
A Navy criminal investigation failed to determine with certainty how Rear Adm. Timothy Giardina obtained counterfeit poker chips that he used last summer at a casino in Iowa. At the time, Giardina was serving as deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Neb., with responsibility for nuclear forces.
Man Gets 3 Years in Russian Mob Gambling Case: Penchant for Violence Revealed
An associate of a notorious Russian Mob boss was sentenced this week to three years for his role in a sports betting ring that generated around $100 million. His sentence came just one day prior to the same judge ordering a wealthy art gallery owner to one year behind bars.
Art Gallery Owner Gets One Year in Jail for Roll in Russian Mafia Gambling Ring
NEW YORK (Associated Press) — A wealthy Manhattan art scion was sentenced to a year and day in prison on Wednesday for illegal gambling after a judge accused him of trying to avoid punishment by offering to use his family's fortune to fund an art appreciation charity for disadvantaged children.
Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police VP Pleads Guilty in Gambling Case
SANFORD, Fla. (Associated Press) — The longtime vice president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police has pleaded guilty, but won't face any jail time for his role with a veterans' organization that prosecutors say was as a front for a $300 million gambling operation.
Robert Freitas made the plea in court Tuesday and has agreed to testify in other cases, if necessary.
"The state's not seeking any sanction beyond the time he's already served," said attorney Tad Yates, who represented Freitas.
