Crime

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.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Thu, 01/29/2015 - 10:54

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.

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 01/28/2015 - 11:12

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.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 01/27/2015 - 10:56

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:

Submitted by Ace King on, Mon, 01/26/2015 - 10:24

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.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Fri, 01/23/2015 - 21:05

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.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Fri, 01/23/2015 - 12:06

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.

Submitted by Ace King on, Thu, 01/22/2015 - 16:23

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.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Wed, 01/21/2015 - 22:00

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.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Wed, 01/21/2015 - 11:33

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.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Tue, 01/20/2015 - 19:47

Mortgage Scammer Pleads Guilty for Operating Illegal Sports Betting Ring

FARGO, North Dakota — (Associated Press) - A Minnesota man accused of running an illegal gambling operation in North Dakota has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

Court documents show Gerald Greenfield, of Bloomington, Minnesota, plans to plead guilty to transmitting wager information and money laundering. KFGO-AM reports that details of the plea agreement have not been released.

Greenfield is charged in federal court with three counts, including conducting a sports betting business and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Mon, 01/19/2015 - 21:22

Man Sentenced for Internet Poker Fraud: Ordered to Return £1 million

Poker pro Darren “DooshCom” Woods has been sentenced to 15 months prison time for an online poker fraud he committed between the period January 2007 to 2012. His father was also implicated in the criminal activity.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Sun, 01/18/2015 - 23:07

Investigation Widens Into Footballer Michael McIndoe and Gambling Exploits

Former Scotland B international footballer Michael McIndoe is accused of recruiting other players into investment ventures which collapsed and the United Kingdom's biggest bookmaker has turned over all relevant information tied to McIndoe's betting account for investigating authorities.

Submitted by Alistair Prescott on, Tue, 01/13/2015 - 16:27

Colorado The Latest US State to Want Legalized Sports Betting: Success With Pot

Colorado’s biggest bookie made millions. His high profile bust has lawmakers insisting that sports betting in the state should be legalized.

And no state should know better the potential for industries on the fringe. Colorado, after all, has witnessed a massive windfall following its legalization of marijuana only a year ago.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 01/13/2015 - 12:46

Ho Nephew Arrested for Involvement in Prostitution Ring

A nephew of Macau Gambling tycoon Stanley Ho has been arrested for suspicion of running a massive prostitution ring from the gambling Mecca.

Alan Ho, a long time senior manager at SJM Holdings, was charged along with five others on Saturday with running the ring from one of the company’s largest properties, the Lisboa Hotel.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Mon, 01/12/2015 - 22:22

Paul Phua and Son Prohibited From Playing Poker: Judge’s Order

LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — A judge says a Malaysian businessman and his son can't play poker at Las Vegas casinos while they await a ruling on whether the FBI illegally entered their hotel suites to investigate what prosecutors say was a $13 million illegal Internet gambling ring.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Hoffman said Thursday he won't lift an order for Wei Seng "Paul" Phua and his son, Darren Wai Kit Phua, not to gamble while they're free on a combined $2.5 million bail.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Thu, 01/08/2015 - 21:41

Pay Per Head Sites Down Due to DoS: PayPerHead.com Vows to Stay Up

In recent weeks a new spate of Denial of Service attacks has taken down online gambling sites, most notably Internet poker rooms. But Pay Per Head sites have also been the targets of these distributed attacks during one of the most critical periods of the year.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Thu, 01/08/2015 - 17:51

Convicted Denver ‘Biggest’ Bookie Kerwin Sande Gets 15 Months Prison Time

One of Denver’s biggest bookies, Kerwin Sande, has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars.

Sande was charged back in August with running a multi-million dollar sports betting ring called Play Fast Sports. It catered to some of the Denver area’s most well known individuals and establishments.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Wed, 01/07/2015 - 11:43

Ex-Fraternal Order of Police President Pleads Guilty in $300 Mil Gambling Ring Case

A former President of the Fraternal Order of Police in Jacksonville, Florida has plead guilty for his involvement in a $300 million gambling scheme.

He was indicted on 100 counts, plead guilty to two felonies and one misdemeanor.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 01/06/2015 - 22:36

Malaysian Official Accused of ‘Atrocious English’ Paul Phua Letter: G911 Investigates

The soap opera involving Malaysian poker pro Paul Phua continues and keeps getting more surreal by the day.

Submitted by Ace King on, Tue, 01/06/2015 - 11:57

Sports Betting ‘Consultant to the Stars’ Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ in Bizarre Threat Case

(Associated Press) - A Florida sports betting consultant pleaded not guilty Monday to allegations that he threatened a Wisconsin customer into giving him more than $25 million.

Adam Meyer, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., appeared with his attorney in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee. Meyer's trial was set for March 16, and a judge continued his $1 million signature bond.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Mon, 01/05/2015 - 21:51

Bitcoin or Bit Con: $730 Million Bitcoin Heist May Have Been Inside Job

As more and more online gambling websites mull over the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, there appears to be good reason why said companies have had reservations up to this point.

Business Insider in the UK reports that Japanese authorities are investigating whether a $730 million heist this past year could have been an inside job.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Mon, 01/05/2015 - 19:30

‘Sopranos’ Bada Bing Strip Club Robbed for Second Time in Just One Month

New Jersey’s famed Bada Bing Strip Club, featured prominently in the HBO mobster series “The Sopranos”, has been hit by a second robbery in just under a one month period.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:35

Malaysian Police Were Wrong Regarding Paul Phua 14K Triad Connections

Officials are pointing the finger at Malaysian police for “getting it wrong” about gambling czar and poker pro Paul Phua’s alleged involvement with the Hong Kong-based transnational organized criminal outfit 14K Triad.

Submitted by Ace King on, Sat, 01/03/2015 - 12:35

Canadian Mass Murderer Had Massive Gambling Debts

A man charged with killing eight people in Edmonton, Canada this week had piled up huge gambling debts and was forced to file bankruptcy last February after running up a debt of nearly C$500,000 (NZ$551,124).

Phu Lam, 53, fatally shot five adults and two children, ages 8 and 3, in an Edmonton house that he co-owned with his estranged wife.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Fri, 01/02/2015 - 20:02

Malaysian Official Intervenes in Federal Case Against Poker Pro Paul Phua

A high ranking Malaysian government official has intervened in a federal case involving poker pro Paul Phua and his son Darren. Phua is a Malaysian businessman who is facing prison time and potential deportation back to his native country.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Tue, 12/30/2014 - 21:32

Dan Bilzerian, Sheldon Adelson and Phil Ivey: The Year in Gambling 2014 Top Stories

It’s that time of year that everybody dreads – the Top 10 Stories of the past 12 months. But everyone is doing it, regardless of the industry, so we shall as well.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 12/30/2014 - 01:42

Art Dealer Helly Nahmad Spotted for First Time Following Release From Prison

Billionaire art dealer Helly Nahmad has been spotted for the first time since serving a brief stint for his role in a high stakes $100 million gambling operation with ties to the Russian Mob.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Mon, 12/29/2014 - 17:57

Paul Phua Trial Delayed Pending Ruling on FBI Tactics

LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Trial has been postponed pending a federal judge's ruling on whether the FBI improperly entered Las Vegas Strip hotel suites without a warrant before arresting and accusing a Malaysian businessman and his son of illegal Internet gambling.

Court records show a Jan. 12 trial date was vacated Monday for Wei Seng "Paul" Phua and his son, Darren Wai Kit Phua. No new date was immediately set.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Fri, 12/26/2014 - 10:06

Thousands Arrested on Charges of Gambling, Porn

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has detained over 30,000 people during a two-month clamp down on pornography and gambling, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.

In the latest arrests, police in the southern province of Guangdong arrested 3,014 and put more than 8,000 in criminal detention as of Dec. 15, Xinhua reported the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department as saying.

Submitted by Reuters on, Wed, 12/24/2014 - 11:00