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38 People Seized In Crackdown Of Two Gambling Organizations

Posted on April 9th, 2010

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A three-year investigation conducted by the organized crime division of the New York Police Department resulted in the clean-up of two online sports gambling organizations and the apprehension of a number of people across the United States. A press conference was called by New York officials together with the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers and the Broward County Sheriff’ Office to report the arrests to the public.

Thirty eight people were apprehended in Nevada, Louisiana, New York, Arizona and Florida who were alleged to have acted as agents, money collectors and bookies in the running of two sports betting rings via the Internet. The operations were found to function on a national level using sports gambling Web sites that were navigated through Costa Rica.

Six people from Louisiana were taken into custody, including the premium sales manager for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA, William Bryant III. A spokesman for the Hornets said Bryant’s dealings had no connection with his job and that he was acting without help and support from the Hornets. “We were advised by federal authorities that the alleged activities do not involve the Hornets,” he said.

Three New York City employees, a sanitation worker, a highway repairman and a firefighter were also arrested. Lawyers for the government said two from Staten Island, Robert Baselice and Charles Cicalo, acted as bookmakers and hired people as intermediaries who collect money and make payments.

The sanitation worker from New York, Robert Ackrish has been charged with running the second gambling operation that also availed of some of the same Web sites, along with his father, Lewis, also from New York. “Such computerized wire rooms operate around the clock and can handle a large volume of bettors at any one time, thus allowing the organizers to increase their illicit profits without having to bother with the time-consuming, record-keeping aspects of a more traditional, paper-based bookmaking operation,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. “Unfortunately for the defendants, the law enforcement community is just as adept in using new technology to stop those involved in such criminal pursuits.”

Prosecutors allege the two online sports betting rings, through their bookies, defrauded gamblers of almost $178 million in bets throughout the U.S. in less than three years. Bookies took wagers on professional and college basketball and football, and also professional baseball and hockey. The 38 were held on enterprise corruption charges, and allegations of money laundering, promoting gambling and conspiracy.