* This is one month old, but their next Court date is Today
[h=2]The illegal Astoria-based gambling ring stretched all the way to Costa Rica, prosecutors said.[/h]
ASTORIA, QUEENS — A Queens grand jury has indicted seven people on charges of running an illegal Astoria-based gambling ring that stretched all the way to Costa Rica, prosecutors said Wednesday.
The seven Queens and Long Island residents stand accused of taking bets on sporting events through wire rooms in Astoria and Costa Rica dating back to January 2016, according to the charges. Sports gambling is legal in Costa Rica.
The gambling ring's alleged boss, Long Island resident Michael Regan, is accused of acting as the bookmaker and profiting from each bet.
Gamblers could place bets by using a toll-free phone number or going in-person to the Astoria wire room at 45-15 30 Ave. They could also place bets online, using the Costa Rica-based wire room.
Investigators overheard the suspects talk about gamblers' accounts, cash transfers and loan sharking and saw them exchange money in white envelopes or bags, prosecutors said.
Police arrested the suspects Wednesday and seized gambling records, computers and $47,000 in cash. They face charges of enterprise corruption, a violation of the state's Organized Crime Control Act, money laundering, promoting gambling, conspiracy and other crimes.
"Putting these kinds of illegal enterprises out of business, saves untold numbers of people from financial devastation," Queens Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan said in a statement.
The defendants are:
MICHAEL REGAN, 61, of Centerpoint, in Long Island, is the alleged Boss/Bookmaker. Regan is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, third- and fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy.
ROBERT BRIEGER, 70, of Rego Park, Queens, is the alleged master agent, head clerk and money manger. Breiger is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy. Breiger's apprehension is pending his extradition from Costa Rica.
LUAN BEXHETI, 47, of Astoria, Queens, is the alleged primary agent and runner. Bexheti is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, third- and fourth-degree money laundering, second-degree criminal usury and fifth-degree conspiracy.
GERALD SCHNEIDER, 67, of Middle Village, Queens, is the alleged agent and manager of the local wire room. Schneider is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy.
ROBERT UTNICK, 54, of Bayside, Queens, is the alleged agent and runner. Utnick is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, third- and fourth-degree money laundering, second-degree criminal usury and fifth-degree conspiracy.
JOHN OTTOMANO, 53, of Roslyn in Long Island, is the alleged agent and runner. Ottomano is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling and fifth-degree conspiracy.
LISA NINO, 36, of Middle Village, Queens, is the alleged local wire room clerk and runner. Nino is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy.
A Queens Supreme Court judge on Wednesday ordered the defendants to surrender their passports and return to court on July 16, 2019.
https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-...d-running-illegal-astoria-based-gambling-ring
[h=2]The illegal Astoria-based gambling ring stretched all the way to Costa Rica, prosecutors said.[/h]
ASTORIA, QUEENS — A Queens grand jury has indicted seven people on charges of running an illegal Astoria-based gambling ring that stretched all the way to Costa Rica, prosecutors said Wednesday.
The seven Queens and Long Island residents stand accused of taking bets on sporting events through wire rooms in Astoria and Costa Rica dating back to January 2016, according to the charges. Sports gambling is legal in Costa Rica.
The gambling ring's alleged boss, Long Island resident Michael Regan, is accused of acting as the bookmaker and profiting from each bet.
Gamblers could place bets by using a toll-free phone number or going in-person to the Astoria wire room at 45-15 30 Ave. They could also place bets online, using the Costa Rica-based wire room.
Investigators overheard the suspects talk about gamblers' accounts, cash transfers and loan sharking and saw them exchange money in white envelopes or bags, prosecutors said.
Police arrested the suspects Wednesday and seized gambling records, computers and $47,000 in cash. They face charges of enterprise corruption, a violation of the state's Organized Crime Control Act, money laundering, promoting gambling, conspiracy and other crimes.
"Putting these kinds of illegal enterprises out of business, saves untold numbers of people from financial devastation," Queens Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan said in a statement.
The defendants are:
MICHAEL REGAN, 61, of Centerpoint, in Long Island, is the alleged Boss/Bookmaker. Regan is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, third- and fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy.
ROBERT BRIEGER, 70, of Rego Park, Queens, is the alleged master agent, head clerk and money manger. Breiger is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy. Breiger's apprehension is pending his extradition from Costa Rica.
LUAN BEXHETI, 47, of Astoria, Queens, is the alleged primary agent and runner. Bexheti is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, third- and fourth-degree money laundering, second-degree criminal usury and fifth-degree conspiracy.
GERALD SCHNEIDER, 67, of Middle Village, Queens, is the alleged agent and manager of the local wire room. Schneider is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy.
ROBERT UTNICK, 54, of Bayside, Queens, is the alleged agent and runner. Utnick is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, third- and fourth-degree money laundering, second-degree criminal usury and fifth-degree conspiracy.
JOHN OTTOMANO, 53, of Roslyn in Long Island, is the alleged agent and runner. Ottomano is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling and fifth-degree conspiracy.
LISA NINO, 36, of Middle Village, Queens, is the alleged local wire room clerk and runner. Nino is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling, fourth-degree money laundering and fifth-degree conspiracy.
A Queens Supreme Court judge on Wednesday ordered the defendants to surrender their passports and return to court on July 16, 2019.
https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-...d-running-illegal-astoria-based-gambling-ring
