Crime
Notorious Philly Mobster’s Son Sentenced to 30 Years in Racketeering Conspiracy
The son of notorious Philadelphia mobster Nicodemo Scarfo has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for racketeering.
Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. is accused of stealing $12 million from shareholders of a publicly traded Texas financial firm.
The younger Scarfo allegedly used false SEC filings and made threats to cause economic harm as a form of shaking down existing company management. His father was sentenced to 55 years for a similar crime.
Whitey Bulger Attorney Wants Racketeering Conviction Overturned
BOSTON – (Associated Press) - Lawyers for a Boston gangster have asked an appeals court to overturn his racketeering conviction, saying his trial was unfair.
One of James "Whitey" Bulger's lawyers argued Monday before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Bulger's right to a fair trial was violated when he was barred from testifying about his claim that he received immunity from a federal prosecutor.
He also argued that prosecutors didn't turn over information about certain details of an agreement he says they had with a hit man who was a key witness against Bulger.
Affective and RevenueJet Affiliate Owners Indicted for Fraud
Two Israeli online gambling operators indicted for money laundering, fraud and identity theft ran two of the more lucrative affiliate programs tied to numerous online casino brands.
Israeli Men Tied to JP Morgan Hacking Involved in Online Gambling
The Israeli online gambling sector, long prominent and pioneering, took a major hit this week when it was revealed that hackers from that nation had ties to Web gambling.
An indictment was filed in New York against Israeli citizens Gery Shalon, 31, and Ziv Orenstein, 40. Charges include money laundering, identity theft and fraud.
Both men are accused in the brazen 2014 database hacking of U.S. based bank JP Morgan.
Italy Seizes Assets Worth $2.95 Billion Belonging to the Mafia
Italian police have seized assets worth up to $2.95 billion said to belong to organized crime in the latest sting against The 'Ndrangheta.
Italy’s most powerful crime syndicate controls much of Europe’s cocaine trade, more than 1500 betting shops, 82 online gambling sites and some 60 other companies engaging in so-called “sin industries”. Profits from the trade, which is worth billions, were laundered through the gambling empire.
China Feared Sheldon Adelson Casinos Used by CIA to Snare Officials
A report, uncovered by the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests the CIA was using Macau casinos, including those owned by billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, to entrap Chinese officials who may have been gambling with public money.
Michael Sam Splits With Mobbed Up Fiancé: Now on the Prowl in Hollywood
The NFL’s first openly gay player, Michael Sam, has broken up with his long time boyfriend, Vito Cammisano.
Cincinnati Horseshoe Casino Employees Indicted for Cheating
Three former casino workers at the Cincinnati Horseshoe were indicted this past week for alleged cheating.
Michigan Appeals Court Affirms Convictions of Siblings Accused of Cheating Casino
Detroit — (Associated Press) - The ball landed on 14 for a big winning bet. But the court case? Snake eyes.
The Michigan appeals court has affirmed the convictions of a brother and sister who were accused of cheating at roulette at the Motor City Casino in Detroit.
James Countryman was working as a dealer in 2012 when his sister, India Countryman, suddenly won $4,700. But investigators said surveillance video shows her bet was placed after the ball landed on red 14.
The siblings denied any wrongdoing.
Judge Keeps Legal Doc Sealed in Case That May Tie Sands Corp to Organized Crime
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — A Nevada judge is keeping sealed a legal exhibit that a newspaper, a union and a Washington, DC-based advocacy group sought to make public in a closely-watched wrongful termination case against casino company Las Vegas Sands Corp., Sands China Ltd. and the companies' chairman Sheldon Adelson.
Guardian News & Media, the Campaign for Accountability and union Unite Here argued Thursday the public should see the exhibit the groups say may tie the companies to organized crime in Asia.
Avoiding Legal Trouble with Pay Per Head Solutions
Sports betting in the United States is a billion dollar industry, but other than in the state of Nevada it also has some serious legal challenges especially when it comes to the actual financial transactions in the act of taking bets.
John Gotti Former Son-In-Law Arrested for Alleged ‘Large-Scale’ Car Theft
The former son-in-law of the late crime boss John Gotti has been taken into police custody for running an alleged “large-scale” car theft ring.
How Do Bookies Make Money? Online Casinos, Live Betting Help Pad Profit Margin
Bookies make money through smart money management and knowing how and when to move the lines. Most bookies – especially those with large client bases – utilize Price Per Head companies to do this for them.
City of Boston Claims Wynn Representatives Were Aware of Mob Association
(Associated Press) - Recently discovered interviews with at least five people show that Wynn Resorts knew that a mob associate with felony convictions would profit from his stake in the waterfront land where the Las Vegas casino giant plans to build a resort, the city of Boston argued in its latest court filings.
Son of Former Genovese Crime Boss Sentenced to Over Two Years for Illegal Gambling
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Associated Press) - A reputed mob member has been sentenced to just over 2 years in prison for running an illegal gambling business.
Daniel Pagano was also given three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine when he was sentenced Friday in federal court in White Plains.
FSU 2015-2016 ACC Conference Championship Odds May Take Hit With More Bad News
(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) – First it was that horrifying video of quarterback De’Andre Johnson slugging a girl in a bar followed by a subsequent suspension, now comes word that FSU running back Dalvin Cook may be charged with battery, assuming State attorney Willie Meggs gets his way.
Curfew for Crime Boss Tied to Two Homicides Relaxed As Wife is Set to Get New Kidney
Crime boss Rocco Arico has had his strict curfew relaxed from 9 pm to 6 am to 1 am to 5 am following news that his wife is about to undergo a kidney transplant.
Man Accused of Bringing Counterfeit Chips to Poker Tournament Indicted on Theft
TRENTON, NJ (Associated Press) - A North Carolina man accused of bringing millions of dollars in counterfeit poker chips to a tournament in New Jersey has been indicted on theft charges.
Gambino Crime Family Captain Appeals Guilty Verdict in Murder Over Spilled Drink
A Gambino crime family captain convicted in 2013 for the murder of two bar owners over a spilled drink is appealing the guilty verdict.
Bartolomeo “Bobby Glasses” Vernace was convicted of racketeering conspiracy spanning 1978 through 2011. Charges included heroin trafficking, robbery, loansharking, illegal gambling and the 1981 double homicide of bar owners Richard Godkin and John D’Agnese.
Italian Authorities Seize $1.7 Billion in Real Life ‘Godfather’ Case
Italian authorities have taken control of $1.76 billion from a Sicilian construction company believed to have ties to organized crime in Corleone.
The Corleone name became synonymous with the Italian Mafia thanks to the Francis Ford Coppola classic film “The Godfather” and its two sequels.
Unlike the “Godfather” fictional Coleones, the real-life Mafia family appears less interested in gambling enterprises and more interested in winning contracts of – drum roll please – honest businessmen.
Phil Mickelson Comments on Money Laundering Allegations… Sort of
GULLANE, Scotland (Associated Press) — Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson refused to comment on allegations linking him to an illegal gambling operation, saying Wednesday he is used to being an "object to be discussed."
Charges Against Giants Player Jason Pierre-Paul Dropped: Latest Odds
(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) - Police in Coral Springs, Florida have confirmed that charges against Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, or JPP for short, have been dropped following a fireworks accident that left him with an injury to his hand.
Man Accused of Cheating at Poker Game Now Charged With Murdering Accuser
A Minnesota man accused of cheating during a poker game Thursday night has now been charged with murder.
Police were called to the scene of Willy’s Bar in Coon Rapids around 12:41 am Thursday after a reported shooting. 29-year-old Rayontra Raydell McCall was found with gunshot wounds to his hand and chest. McCall was transported to Mercy Hospital where he later died.
Disgraced FSU QB De'Andre Johnson to be Featured on ESPN ‘Outside the Lines’ Wed
(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) - Oddsmakers have yet to react to FSU quarterback De’Andre Johnson’s suspension after clocking a girl in a bar. The incident was caught on video surveillance. Johnson was not believed to be the top pick for starting QB this upcoming season.
Johnson, who was named "Mr. Football" in Florida as a senior at First Coast High School in 2014, is charged with misdemeanor battery and will be represented by famed defense attorney Jose Baez.
New Jersey Online Gambling Sites Hit by Cyber Attack: Bitcoin Ransom Demanded
New Jersey online gambling sites are not immune to cyber attacks that have long plagued offshore wagering companies and those based out of Europe. That was demonstrated this past weekend after four of the state’s Web casino sites were hit.
Man Who Blew Up Home Over Gambling Debts Wanted to Buy Ferrari Afterwards
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Associated Press) — A man accused of blowing up his Indianapolis home for the insurance money, killing two neighbors and devastating a neighborhood in the process, told a former friend some days before the explosion that his house had blown up and that he wanted to buy a luxury car, the ex-friend testified Monday.
Mark Duckworth said Mark Leonard told him that strong winds had caused the explosion, but that the story didn't ring true.
Poker Players Continue to be Questioned in Slain Tycoon’s Death
Four poker players who remain suspects in the murder of a wealthy nightclub owner have been brought back for questioning.
The individuals reportedly owed a Bt4-million gambling debt to Thai tycoon Somyot Suthangkool.
The suspect list is not limited to just these poker players, however. Somyot's office had been handling 10 lawsuits, most of which were drug-related.
Police Chief Blows Funds From DEA Gambling at Casino: Faces Charges
WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania — (Associated Press) - A police chief who resigned after nearly 40 years as an officer in a southwestern Pennsylvania township faces an October non-jury trial on charges he blew $10,000 from a federal Drug Enforcement Administration fund at a casino.
Former Cecil Township chief John Pushak waived his right to be tried by a jury at a pretrial conference Thursday in Washington County, where he's now scheduled to stand trial starting Oct. 1.
Asian Tycoon Shot Dead Monday: Motive May Have Been Poker Debt
Thai former night-entertainment tycoon Somyot Suthangkool was shot dead Monday night with the motive likely stemming from a Bt4-million gambling debt four poker players owed him.
Other possible motives included his line of work as the owner of a lawyer's office and conflict over the purchase of a plot of land on which Rama IX Cafe was located.
Feds Won’t Appeal Poker Pro Paul Phua Gambling Case After Rights Violation
Federal prosecutors have confirmed they will not be appealing a judge’s dismissal of an illegal gambling case against wealthy businessman Paul Phua. Daniel Bogden, Nevada U.S. Attorney, confirmed this news to the Las Vegas Review Journal on Thursday.
