Another illegal gambling ring operating in three states broken

Authorities from three states busted a gambling ring which used online betting websites in Costa Rica.

Mafia gambling The main operation was in Phoenix, Arizona, where deputies arrested 27 people in connection with an alleged gambling ring. According to the Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, the illegal gambling operation was run by the Gambino and Colombo mafia families.

Arpaio said that the operation was run in a few local bars, where people would collect their winnings in person, or pay their loses, after placing bets online at websites run from Costa Rica. People who could not settle their shark-loans were paying interest to the criminals as high as 51% and violent extortion was occurring quite often.

Undercover officers have infiltrated the gambling ring which operated in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. According to the authorities, over $150 million in assets are expected to be collected, which include over 30 high-end vehicles, cash and homes. The police claims to freeze over 120 local bank accounts and place racketeering liens on many homes and businesses connected to the illegal gambling ring.

The arrested face charges for promotion of gambling, money laundering, conspiracy and extortion.

04/25/2007