Two 2023 police raids at Mt Lawley and Cloverdale gambling dens helped authorities seize almost $190,000 in cash, along with gambling cards and chips usually found at Monte Carlo casinos.

The two underground locations used for illegal gambling were allegedly run by a number of Crown Casino workers. 

The casino chips and blocks of cash will be destroyed as police efforts continue toward targeting more underground venues. 

$130,000 Seized from Mount Lawley

Last April, police raided a Mount Lawley business where it seized close to $130,000 from an alleged illegal game, along with tens of thousands of dollars worth of casino chips, a baccarat table cover, and gaming cards.

An ex-Crown Perth employee is believed to have allegedly recruited three additional dealers from the same casino and instructed them to run games that would allegedly target members of organized crime or problem gamblers.

All three dealers had their licenses canceled.

$60,000 Seized from Cloverdale Home Raid

At the end of 2023, during a raid on a Cloverdale home, police allegedly discovered 16 players who had been previously banned from the casino plus $60,000. 

The respective home was suspected of allegedly operating a game without a permit or license. 

A 35-year-old man pleaded guilty to money and property laundering.

While gambling activities in charities and clubs are permitted in Western Australia via a permit, police allege the respective operations did not have one.

“Eventually They’ll Pop Back Up”

According to Gaming and Regulation executive director Jennifer Shelton in an interview for 9News, these Australian criminal organizations that are targeting vulnerable individuals “who are then using it for other criminal gains” are currently laying low. 

However, Shelton is confident that “eventually they’ll pop back up either in the same location or same premises.” 

The director added that organizers were interested in targeting Crown Casino employees and recruiting both problem gamblers who are patrons at the facility, as well as dealers.

The vulnerable players are either self-excluded players or individuals who are no strangers to the world of organized crime or who have accumulated “unexplained wealth.”

At the start of the year, Crown Resorts revealed that illegal online gambling websites had been using their intellectual property to deceive consumers.

Police and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia issued a statement regarding the events, saying the tighter supervision, casino monitoring, and organized crime prevention in casinos will get, the more likely we are to see people “try and get around it.”

Gambling is considered a serious public health risk in the context of hundreds of millions being lost to the activity each month. 

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While nearly 40 US states currently offer legal sports wagering, not all of them permit all types of wagers. For example, some states allow betting on collegiate teams when it’s out of state, effectively restricting wagering on in-state collegiate sports. One such state is Massachusetts.

Currently, the state restricts in-state college sports betting with the exception of teams that participate in tournaments of four or more teams. Not unexpectedly, prop betting on in-state collegiate teams is also not allowed. Despite the established rules, breaches are not impossible, which is precisely what happened during the 2023 football season.

One of the major operators in the sports betting vertical in Massachusetts, BetMGM, is in hot water after allegedly accepting prohibited prop bets on individual college athletes. The alleged violation of the established rules was discussed during a meeting of the state’s gambling regulator, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) last week. At the time, the Commission claimed that the sports betting operator accepted more than $200,000 worth of improper wagers. This translates to more than 15,000 bets allegedly accepted by BetMGM during the 2023 college football season.

It is not uncommon for breaches of the gambling regulations to be self-reported by the operators. Yet, Cathy Judd-Stein, the MGC’s chair, who was quoted by PlayMA, revealed that the alleged violation of BetMGM was uncovered as a part of an audit. She explained that prop wagers on collegiate athletes are a violation in Massachusetts, adding that the state has established clear rules that prohibit such wagers. Finally, Judd-Stein explained: “I know I’m personally interested in resolving this matter as quickly as possible for the protection of student-athletes.”

“Prop bets on students is a statutory violation here in Massachusetts.“

Cathy Judd-Stein, chair of the MGC

Adjudicatory Hearing Is Expected

Besides the alleged violations of BetMGM, the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) uncovered details regarding two other minor breaches. The MGC heard that BetMGM’s retail sportsbook and Fanatics Sportsbook allegedly accepted two separate prohibited wagers for college games. Each of the bets was less than $10. The aforementioned breaches were sent back to the IEB.

On the other hand, considering the scale of BetMGM’s alleged breaches, the Commission decided to refer the matter to the IEB which will subsequently seek an adjudicatory hearing. This otherwise means that a court would hear the facts and determine if a penalty needs to be applied. Once this happens, the MGC will be able to either greenlight or reject a penalty that can vary depending on the severity of the breach.

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A week ago, Deobra Delone Redden, 30, assaulted Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus as she pronounced his sentence. According to the latest reports, Redden might have attacked the judge because of a mental illness.

For reference, Judge Holthus was sentencing Redden to prison over an earlier attack with a baseball bat. Holtus denied the defendant bail, causing him to charge at her, leap across the desk and slam her into the ground. Redden assaulted the judge but was thankfully stopped by a courtroom marshal and a clerk who intervened to hold him back.

While Holthus’ injuries did not require immediate attention, she was later taken to hospital because of her painful injuries. Shane Brandon, the courtroom marshal who intervened, got the worst of it and was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a cut on the face.

The clerk, Michael Lasso, suffered cuts on his hand but was not hospitalized. In an interview with Good Morning America, he said that he is glad he had been in the courtroom at the time of the attack because he “doesn’t even want to think about what would have happened” otherwise.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson praised the two men’s actions, thanking him for preventing the situation from becoming much worse.

Redden’s Relatives Were Surprised by His Reaction

As it turns out, Redden’s violent assault may be related to a mental illness. According to reports from Las Vegas news outlets, Redden’s relatives claimed that the man is suffering from schizophrenia and had not taken his medication on the day of the attack.

However, Redden was found competent to stand trial for the incident last year, following treatment at a state forensic psychiatric facility.

The man’s foster mother, Karen Springer, commented on the matter in an interview with KVVU, expressing her shock about Redden’s violent outburst. His sister, Ladonna Daniels, also commented on the matter, saying that the attack was likely not premeditated but a reaction to the sentence.

Holthus was unable to complete the sentence on the day of the assault. However, the court convened again on Monday and she handed him a sentence of between 19 and 48 months. The judge emphasized that the assault on her did not cause her to modify the sentence.

However, Redden now faces additional charges for the attack. He was charged with attempted murder and also faces charges for battery on a protected person, intimidation of a public officer and extortion by threat.

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Cactus Petes Resort Casino is a premium entertainment and gaming destination located in Jackpot, Nevada. Recently, one visitor of the casino was arrested after he allegedly took out a knife when approached by law enforcement. A report released by Elko Daily reveals that the individual, identified with the initials, R.J.C., 41, of Idaho, was arrested on January 6 by a deputy from the Elko County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident at Cactus Petes Resort Casino is related to a call about a woman in distress who requested medical attention. Police were dispatched to the Jackpot casino to speak with the woman who appeared to be “frightened and skittish.” Upon interviewing the alleged victim, law enforcement heard that she was threatened by the 41-year-old suspect.

The woman claimed that if the suspect would not find her in their room, he would have killed her. Additionally, the woman, whose name was not disclosed, stated she was subject to battery, showing recent injuries, allegedly caused by the person who was subsequently detained.

After collecting the woman’s statement, police examined a bruise that “appeared to be recent.” This prompted the deputy from Elko County Sheriff’s Office to search for the person suspected of the crime.

The Suspect Was Arrested on Multiple Charges

It hasn’t taken long for law enforcement to find the 41-year-old suspect. He appeared to be at the front desk of the hotel casino, asking where the woman was located. After he was approached by police, the suspect shouted, “I have a knife” and allegedly drew a knife that he held clumsily. This action resulted in the deputy tasing the perpetrator who was subsequently arrested.

Reportedly, the 41-year-old was arrested on charges of domestic battery and assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person. Additionally, he is held on charges of assault with a deadly weapon against a first responder as well as resisting while in possession of a dangerous weapon other than a firearm.

Upon examining the individual’s record, law enforcement uncovered that he had a non-extradition warrant issued from California, along with a fugitive from justice warrant from his home state, Idaho. According to police officers, the person did not appear in court which resulted in the order issued from Ada County in Idaho.

Elsewhere in Nevada, a felon faces charges after sex trafficking a minor. The perpetrator used a firearm that he possessed illegally to threaten an underage girl, forcing her into prostitution.

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A woman who was on a date with an older man was arrested earlier this week after allegedly taking nearly $60,000 from his hotel room safe at Caesars Palace. The 27-year-old woman with initials H.M., suspected of the crime, was arrested near her home on West Sahara Avenue on Tuesday this week, a report released by the Las Vegas Review-Journal reveals, citing data from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Executing a search warrant on her home, law enforcement seized some $5,200 in the form of Caesars casino chips. Additionally, police uncovered $11,700 in cash that was also taken in as evidence in the case. Reportedly, the young woman is facing charges of burglary, as well as grand larceny of more than $25,000 but less than $100,000.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court next month on November 22, 2023. It is yet to be determined what penalty the young woman may receive for the alleged crimes. Still, a grand larceny of more than $25,000 but less than $100,000 is a category B felony that may be subject to a penalty between 1 to 10 years in prison, as well as a fine that can be up to $10,000.

A Night Out Results in Missing Chips and Cash

According to the police report, the young woman was on a date with a man who was 30 years older than her. The name of the man was not disclosed. However, the police report confirmed that the couple met through an online dating site called “Seeking Arrangement.” Allegedly, the 27-year-old agreed to stay together with the man for two days and nights in exchange for a fee of $2,500.

The duo stayed at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and on the first day, the man allegedly paid the fee to the young woman. Moreover, he agreed for her to keep her purse in his hotel room safe. Besides her purse, that safe contained some $7,000 in gambling chips along with $50,000 in cash that belonged to the gentleman. The 27-year-old was then allegedly given the combination number to the safe verbally.

On the second night, the two visited the Sphere for a U2 concert. At some point, the young woman left saying that she needed to go to the restroom. Some 15 minutes later, she still hadn’t returned, and this is when the man sent her a text asking if she was okay. While he never received a response, some 30 minutes after she was gone, the man asked Caesars to block the access to his room. Once he returned back to his room at Caesars Palace, the man found that his possessions were missing from the safe.

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In the wake of his departure from Resorts World Las Vegas, the company’s ex-president and COO, Scott Sibella, has been accused of allowing criminals to gamble. Robert Cipriani, a Californian high roller, alleges that Sibella would knowingly “turn a blind eye” to multiple patrons who gambled with stolen money.

Through their negligence, the casino resort and Sibella himself have caused distress to Cipriani, the plaintiff says.

Filed in the US District Court of Nevada, the suit alleges that Robert Alexander, a person who was involved in a previous incident with Cipriani, used money that he had stolen from his investors to gamble at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Cipriani tried to tip off Sibella and the casino staff about what was happening but they allegedly ignored him. In addition, Alexander allegedly subjected the plaintiff to weeks of harassment and intimidation.

For reference, in November 2021, Alexander and Cipriani were involved in a case that caused Cipriani to be charged with robbery and larceny. These charges were eventually dropped. Alexander, on the other hand, has previously pled guilty to wire fraud and securities fraud.

This Wasn’t the Only Time the Resort Allowed Convicted Criminals to Play, the Plaintiff Says

As outlined in the lawsuit, Cipriani had also tried to inform the casino staff of additional criminal activities. The plaintiff provided screenshots of conversations between himself and the casino property’s surveillance operations manager, Joseph Tatonetti, as proof. The images prove that Cipriani had indeed tipped off Tatonetti about two criminals, notably Brandon Sattler and Edwin Ting, who were allowed to play at the casino.

Cipriani and Tatonetti agreed that Ting, who once operated an illegal gambling ring, should not have gotten through compliance. The manager had replied that “the cage director is really pissed about it as well.”

Cipriani will now seek compensations for alleged damages that Resorts World Las Vegas and Sibella have caused.

Speaking of Sibella, the aforementioned lawsuit comes a few weeks after the former Resorts World Las Vegas president was forced to leave the company because of unspecified violations. In the meantime, Resorts World Las Vegas named its chief financial officer, Peter LaVoie, as its new president.

The post RWLV’s Ex-President Allegedly Allowed Criminals to Gamble with Stolen Money appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Identity theft or fraud is a criminal activity that involves a person using information about another individual to fraudulently obtain services or goods. In Nevada, identity theft is a crime that can be punished with a fine of up to $100,000, as well as imprisonment of up to 20 years. While such crimes aren’t uncommon, it is really difficult for offenders to hide their tracks which usually results in their capture.

Now, a new report suggests that a person was almost able to pull off a scam that allegedly allowed him to obtain more than $1 million by pretending to be the owner of a hotel-casino in Las Vegas. As reported by KLAS, a 23-year-old man named Erik Gutierrez was accused of theft of more than $100,000 after allegedly impersonating a Las Vegas hotel owner to receive money.

The alleged fraud dates back to earlier this month, when an “unknown person” entered the Circa Hotel and Casino, located in downtown Las Vegas, approaching a cage teller and asking for money, reveals the latest report citing court documents. Reportedly, the man claimed to be the owner of the hotel and asked the teller to give him money for fake payments to the fire department.

Law Enforcement Arrests the Suspect, Uncovers $850K

Police were reportedly alerted about the alleged scam on June 17, 2023. Authorities suspected Gutierrez by tracking the vehicle used for the alleged theft. After obtaining a search warrant, on June 18, Police arrested Gutierrez. Upon searching the man’s home, the authorities uncovered a large bag with “US currency bundled together with the name Circa written on the bundle.”

Overall, approximately $850,000 was recovered. Still, more than $300,000 is missing, given that the total which was allegedly obtained in three separate payments was $1,170,000. Currently, law enforcement is trying to determine where is the remaining $314,000.

In a statement released via Twitter, Circa’s CEO, Derek Stevens, said: “Although I love a good PR story, this isn’t one of them.” He explained that Circa is currently collaborating with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department regarding the investigation. Stevens praised the law enforcement’s efforts and refrained from further comments saying that an investigation is currently ongoing.

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Problem gambling can lead to dire consequences for the people affected, including their families. People that have a difficult time controlling their gambling habit can get into debt or in some severe cases resort to crimes or even take their own life. In Australia, gambling is widely spread. So much, in fact, that hundreds of millions are lost to gambling on a monthly basis, resulting in billions of losses annually.

As gambling doesn’t mix well with alcohol, the same goes for people that manage funds and may suffer from problem gambling. Now, a new report released by ABC reveals that a former financial advisor from Perth, accused of stealing more than AU$1 million ($678,500) from clients, is on trial. The man, who allegedly stole money from investors, spent it on online gambling.

The 41-year-old, Mark Raymond Sebo, represents himself in court and denied the allegations. Previously, the financial advisor pleaded not guilty to 36 charges of stealing money from eight different clients. Allegations against Sebo claimed that he stole more than AU$1 million ($678,500) over 10 days. The alleged incident occurred between July and August 2019.

Allegations Claim the Investors’ Money Was Spent on Gambling

The prosecution against Sebo at the WA’s District Court claimed that Sebo was approached by some of his clients, who questioned the transactions they saw on their accounts. However, allegedly the financial advisor told them to file a complaint with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the country’s independent government body in charge of regulating financial services, authorized financial markets and consumer credits, among other financial matters.

The prosecution claimed that in one text message, Sebo wrote: “This is my error … I can no longer fix it for anyone as my accounts have been frozen.” Then, allegedly the financial advisor wrote: “The best you can do at the moment is make a complaint to ASIC.”

So far, no money has been recovered, while Paul Usher, the state prosecutor, alleged that Sebo’s actions violated an agreement with his clients. The financial advisor was in charge of funds belonging to his clients, but he was not given permission to transfer those funds to his business and personal accounts, claimed Usher.

Additionally, the state prosecutor said that evidence would show that the financial advisor spent the money he has taken from his clients’ accounts on gambling via three different online operators. While the trial continues it is yet to be determined whether Sebo will face any penalty and if so, what it might be.

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Former Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is at the center of yet another scandal after a media report claims he has been given an €11,800 ($12,300) monthly consultancy contract from a company linked with the Dragonara casino boss.

Exotic Bird Company Used as a Front?

Muscat started receiving the lucrative monthly payments as part of a €141,600 ($151,500) annual consultancy contract with an exotic bird company owned by casino tycoon Johann Schembri just nine months after the property lease deal for the casino owned by Schembri was extended, reported Times of Malta.

Muscat, who had to step down as Prime Minister in January 2020, following allegations of protecting people involved with the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017, was responsible for overseeing the deal which slashed the annual ground rent payments and extended the property lease for the prime St Julian’s site by 64 years without a public tender, saving millions for the casino.

According to documents obtained by the media, in April 2020, just three months after Muscat resigned as Prime Minister and while still a member of the parliament, he began receiving monthly payments from Organicum, a company owned by Dragonara casino managing director and shareholder Johann Schembri.

Financial documents reveal that Organicum deals with breeding exotic birds and making organic produce, has biological assets worth €100,000 ($107,000), employs just two people, and has declared hundreds of thousands of losses in 2020 and 2021, raising concerns about Muscat’s lucrative consultancy contract.

Both Parties Deny Any Wrongdoings

Contacted for comments, the former prime minister denied any wrongdoings but refused to comment on the consultancy agreement, and instead, chose to attack the media for being “hell-bent on characterizing legitimate and documented work” he does “as in some way untoward.”

Schembri defended the consultancy contract, claiming that it is unrelated to the Dragonara casino deal and “any statement, suggestion or inference to the contrary is refuted as entirely untrue, incorrect and purely speculative” and that the company holding the casino concession, Dragonara Gaming Limited, “has never paid any consultancy fees to Dr. Joseph Muscat.”

Muscat is also involved in a corruption probe into another monthly consultancy contract worth €15,000 ($16,050) with a Swiss company, Accutor AG,  which was allegedly used as a front to pass on kickbacks from the acquisition deal for Vitals hospitals by Steward Healthcare Malta in 2018.

Casino tycoon Schembri is a major player in the gambling sector of the island country. Last year, his umbrella company, IZI Group, was awarded the running of the national lottery.

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Last year, Matthew Beasley, a Las Vegas lawyer and sports bettor, came under fire for alleged participation in a $460-500 million Ponzi scheme. Beasley, who refused to cooperate with the police at first, is believed to have been a part of a group that took money from more than 600 investors to live in luxury. A new lawsuit alleges that the bank he used might have been involved as well.

The Scheme Involves Millions of Investors’ Money

Beasley and other scheme participants embellished investors’ money to buy private jets, boats, cars and luxurious properties, according to the lawsuit. Furthermore, earlier findings showed that the lawyer used a part of the money to pay back his gambling debts. He allegedly owed sportsbooks a whopping $4 million

When the police went to arrest the man, he resisted and threatened to commit suicide with a gun. When asked to put the weapon down, Beasley pointed it at the policemen, causing them to shoot him non-fatally.

The scheme Beasley participated in was believed to be led by J&J Entities owner Jeffrey Judd, who, according to Beasley, had the names of everyone involved in the fraud.

Beasley was indicted for five counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering for the scheme. His lawyer’s license was eventually revoked.

Well Fargo Cannot Have Missed the Scheme

As it turns out, Wells Fargo Bank, the bank which Beasley used, should have been aware of what was happening. As a result, the financial service now faces a lawsuit as well.

A court-appointed receiver, Geoff Winkler, was tasked with bringing the litigation against Well Fargo, as requested by a federal judge. The judge has reasons to believe that the bank should have immediately identified the fraudulent scheme.

According to the new lawsuit, Well Fargo should have seen the suspicious activity since the money related to the Ponzi scheme passed through Beasley’s account, according to earlier findings. According to the lawsuit, “a Ponzi scheme of this magnitude cannot run surreptitiously through an IOLTA and various related-party accounts.”

Furthermore, Well Fargo employees might have actively assisted Beasley, the lawsuit argues. As it turns out, some Well Fargo employees, including a manager at a Nevada-based branch, reported the suspicious activity. Concerningly, Well Fargo failed to take adequate action, even asking branch employees to execute the suspicious transactions.

This will not be the first time Well Fargo has been accused of having collections with the scheme. Around the same time Beasley was arrested, a lawsuit sought to find the banking firm’s relationship with the fraudsters.

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