Crime
Defense Rests in High Profile Philadelphia Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — They won’t be going home for Christmas, but several accused mobsters appeared upbeat Wednesday as their racketeering trial in Philadelphia nears an end.
Full Tilt Poker Head Howard Lederer Forfeits $1.25 Mil, Several Properties
Howard Lederer, the one time part owner of Full Tilt Poker, has settled with the US Government, agreeing to forfeit $1.25 million in bank accounts and a number of real estate properties.
Judge To Ask Jury About Slaying Amid Philadelphia Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A judge plans to ask jurors about a suspected mob-linked slaying that took place Wednesday, just hours after prosecutors wrapped up a mob racketeering case.
Fifty-year-old victim Gino DiPietro has been mentioned in the two-month trial of alleged Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi and six others.
DOJ Forfeits $7 Million in Proceeds From One of First Online Gambling Sites WWTS
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a consent order of forfeiture today ordering the civil forfeiture of $6,976,924 traced to international money laundering of the proceeds from an offshore Internet gambling operation that illegally targeted U.S. residents, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Richard Weber, Chief of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Massive Online Gambling Bust Nets Over 400 People in China
Police from China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar shut down a US$1.75 billion online gambling operation based in China’s Hubei Province on Thursday.
The investigation has been ongoing for two years now and involved some 400 individuals of which 37 have been detained thus far.
Defense: Philly Mob Boss was Rainmaker
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A mob lawyer in Philadelphia tried Tuesday to persuade jurors that an alleged La Cosa Nostra boss was a rainmaker at a trash disposal company, not a no-show Teamsters worker.
Miami Police Under Investigation by Feds in Bookmaking Case
At least a half dozen Miami police officers are under investigation by the FBI for allegedly providing protection to a Liberty City sports gambling operation, according to the Miami Herald. At least one officer has been relieved of his duties.
Search Continues for Armed 'Pizza Deliverymen' in Poker Pro Theo Jorgensen Shooting
One of Denmark’s leading poker pros Theo Jorgensen continues to recover following a gun shot wound to his leg suffered during an armed home invasion that occurred this past Sunday. The bandits entered the premises claiming to be pizza deliverymen, though nobody in the Jorgensen household had ordered pizza. The poker pro’s wife was home at the time of the attack.
Danish Poker Pro Theo Jorgensen Shot and Left for Dead
One of Denmark’s most recognizable names in the world of poker, Theo Jorgensen, was shot earlier in the week during a robbery at his home.
The 36-year-old Jorgensen, who has amassed nearly $3 million in live tournament play during his career, was shot in the leg during the breakin late Sunday night.
Tulsa Fires Athletic Director Over Gambling Probe
TULSA, Okla.— (Associated Press) - Tulsa athletic director Ross Parmley was fired Tuesday, a week after he was named in a federal investigation of a man accused of running a gambling operation in Oklahoma City.
Tulsa President Steadman Upham released a letter to students and faculty of the private university Tuesday night, saying Parmley "admitted he had not been truthful" about his role in the mess when he told him in October 2011 that he was cooperating in an FBI investigation.
Full Tilt Poker Executive Director Accused in Ponzi Scheme Settles With DOJ
Rafe Furst, one of three individuals accused of orchestrating an elaborate ponzi scheme while on the Board of Directors of Full Tilt Poker, has settled with US law enforcement and will now surrender his Swiss bank account and pay a $150,000 fine.
In return the US Government has dropped the civil money laundering penalty of $11,706,323.96. A portion of those funds are contained within the Swiss bank account.
Jury Deliberating in Case of Hitman Who Killed Man in Karaoke Bar Over Gambling Debt
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) -- A Nevada jury is deliberating whether an accused 25-year-old hit man for a Chinese gang should get the death penalty for brutally stabbing a man to death in a crowded Las Vegas karaoke bar over a $10,000 gambling debt.
Tulsa Notifies NCAA Regarding Gambling Athletics Director: Probe Launched
As reported earlier in the day Wednesday by Gambling911.com, University of Tulsa Director of Athletics Ross Parmley has been suspended after being linked to a local bookmaker charged with running an illegal gambling operation.
It has since been revealed that the school notified the NCAA, which is expected to begin launching its own probe into the matter.
Tulsa’s Athletic Director Ross Parmley Suspended for Betting on Football (Video)
Tulsa Athletic Director Ross Parmley, 39, has been suspended following his confession to the FBI that he placed bets on both College Football and NFL games.
Parmley was a client of bookie Teddy Mitchell, who is currently awaiting trial for allegedly operating an illegal gambling enterprise. Parmley has not been charged with any crime.
The suspended Athletic Director was hired by the school last January and asserts that he stopped gambling prior to this time.
Former Mob Boss Joseph ‘Big Joey’ Massino Admits He is a ‘Rat’
Testifying against Genovese capo Anthony “Rom” Romanello in a Brooklyn federal court on Monday, one time Mafia boss Joseph “Big Josey” Massino admitted he’s a “rat” and took credit for being the first don to violate the mob’s blood oath of omerta.
CFTC Press Release Regarding Intrade Complaint
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today filed a civil complaint in federal district court in Washington, DC, charging Intrade The Prediction Market Limited (Intrade) and Trade Exchange Network Limited (TEN), Irish companies based in Dublin, Ireland, with offering commodity option contracts to U.S. customers for trading, as well as soliciting, accepting, and confirming the execution of orders from U.S.
Pinnacle Sports Closed to All Agents in US
Following a massive sweep resulting in the arrests of more than 30 people betting on behalf of PinnacleSports.com and at least two other websites last month, Pinnacle has effectively shut off its business to all interests operating within the United States.
Murderous Gambling Addict Jailed for Life after Killing Wife in Front of Small Child
A man who brutally stabbed his wife to death over mounting gambling debts in front of their small child has received a life sentence.
South Carolina High Court Rules Organized Poker Games Illegal
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Associated Press) - South Carolina's high court says that organized poker games are illegal, even when they happen in a private home.
The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that state law prohibits wagering on Texas Hold 'Em, even though it's a game of skill.
During a raid on a home near Charleston in 2006, police seized several thousand dollars in cash and a small amount of marijuana, ticketing about 25 people for illegal gambling.
Mobster Whitey Bulger Claims He Was Given Government Immunity
BOSTON (Associated Press) — Prosecutors have asked a federal judge to force Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger to produce proof that he was awarded immunity by federal authorities before his June trial spirals into an "unduly elongated and unmanageable" mess.
In documents filed Friday, prosecutors call Bulger's claim of immunity "frivolous" and "absurd."
83-Year Old Ex-Hitman Testifies at Philadelphia Mob Boss Trial
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — An aging mob hit man told jurors Monday that he once plotted to kill a Philadelphia mob boss now on trial and two underlings — even though he liked them.
Alabama Developer Ronnie Gilley Begins Jail Time After Vote Buying Trial
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Associated Press) — Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley has reported to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta to begin serving a sentence of six years and eight months for offering bribes to legislators to support pro-gambling legislation.
He was originally scheduled to report Aug. 27. He has received delays to allow him to pay for unspecified surgery and recovery rather than having the federal Bureau of Prisons pay for it.
Federal prisons spokeswoman Traci Billingsley said Gilley reported to the Atlanta prison Monday afternoon as scheduled.
Booby-Trapped Denver Home Once Belonged to Mobsters
Renovations on an 1891 Victorian home in Denver turned up something shocking this week. The home, once owned by the Smaldone Crime Family, was apparently booby-trapped.
Matt Feeney bought the old home on Osage Street and knew it needed some TLC. So upon knocking down walls, he made the shocking discovery.
GOP Senate Candidates Received Over $200k in Laundered Gambling Money
Reports have surfaced that gambling money linked to a 2010 GOP takeover of the Alabama Senate allegedly was laundered.
From the Alabama Political Reporter:
Mob Boss Wanted Philadelphia Radio Personality Jerry Blavat Whacked
Testimony continued this week in the trial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi with the revelation that he had allegedly vowed to kill radio celebrity Jerry Blavat after reading a 2009 article appearing in the Philadelphia Magazine.
76-Year-Old Reputed Mobster Robert Gentile to Plead Guilty
HARTFORD, Conn. (Associated Press) — A 76-year-old reputed Connecticut mobster said to have information about the largest art heist in history was expected to plead guilty Wednesday in a weapons and prescription drugs case.
Robert Gentile, of Manchester, has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled in Hartford federal court. He has pleaded not guilty to allegations he illegally possessed firearms and explosives and sold illegally obtained prescription drugs.
EU Must Act Over ‘Protectionist’ Rule Following Detention of Bwin.Party Founder
The Financial Time’s Jonathan Guthrie blasted the European Union for its failure to act appropriately in light of member nations chokehold over online gambling firms.
Bwin.Party Head Norbert Teufelberger Released After Belgian Detention
Norbert Teufelberger, the co-founder of Bwin.Party, was released following two hours of questioning by Belgian authorities late Tuesday.
Teufelberger had just finished giving the keynote address at the Responsible Gaming Day conference when authorities came and requested he come with them for questioning after the event at 2 pm local time. Teufelberger did go voluntarily, a company representative confirmed.
Bwin.Party Co-Founder Norbert Teufelberger Detained in Belgium
Norbert Teufelberger, co-founder of the world’s largest online betting firm Bwin.Party, was detained while visiting Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday.
Teufelberger was in attendance at the Responsible Gaming Day conference in that European nation, home to the European Union, when authorities came and requested he come with them for questioning after the event at 2 pm local time. Teufelberger did go voluntarily, a company representative confirmed.
Three-Month Delay Granted in Murder Trial of Massachusetts Mobster Whitey Bulger
BOSTON – (Associated Press) - A federal judge on Friday agreed to delay the murder trial of former mobster James "Whitey" Bulger by three months, rejecting a defense request for eight months.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns said he would put off Bulger's trial from March until June. He said jury selection will begin on June 6.
