<TABLE cols=2 width=700 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=700 colSpan=2>[SIZE=+3]U.S. targets yet another sportsbook operating here[/SIZE]
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Three sportsbook operators in Costa Rica are facing U.S. federal iindictments in another complex crackdown on offshore betting here.
They join nine individuals in the United States who have been indicted on illegal gambling and money laundering charges.
The San José individuals are Richard Anderson, 62, also of Los Angeles, California, and Darwin Mobley and Jorge Esteban Hall Zumbado, both of San José. Anderson, Mobley, and Zumbado allegedly operated the gambling business in Costa Rica and received compensation for doing so with funds sent by wire transfer from the United States to a bank account in Costa Rica, said a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Houshang Pourmohamad, 61, of Richmond, California, is a fourth person indicted at the same time. He worked as an agent in the United States, collecting money from players in the United States and delivering the currency either to a bookmaker or to runners. As an agent, Pourmohamad received a commission based on a percentage of his players’ losses, said the government.
The gambling operation on the Internet was know as www.bettheduck.com.
The four individuals were named in a 12-count indictment, which was unsealed last week. The defendants face charges of conspiracy and of conducting an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to launder funds from the business, and conspiracy to use facilities in interstate and foreign commerce, including e-mail, telephone communication, and an Internet Web site, to promote the unlawful activity, said U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan of the Northern District of California.
Pourmohamad was arrested on July 26 in Richmond, California, on an earlier criminal indictment. He made
</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=350>his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland,
California, and is scheduled to appear again Sept. 12. Seven other persons were arrested with Pourmohamad in California July 26.
They are Jenaro R. Mejias of Carson City, Nevada; Tony Ferretti of Pacifica, California; Dallas Affolter, also of Pacifica; Ed Attanasio, of San Francisco, California; David Volkman, of Belmont, California; Norm Foisy of Lafayette, California, and Ray Vargas, of Fremont, California, according to the U.,S. Department of Justice. The men also were described as agents who collected money for transfer to Costa Rica.
The complaint charges the defendants with conspiracy to conduct, finance, manage, and supervise an illegal gambling business and conducting, financing, managing, and supervising an illegal gambling business. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The complaint also charges the defendants with conspiracy to launder money. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, five years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The earlier case also involves www.bettheduck.com. The Web site is not active now.
Local sources said they believe Mobley is 37 and has residency in Costa Rica. He lives in la Pacifica subdivision. Hall Zumbado, 29, is a Costa Rican who lives in Heredia, said the same sources. It is not known if Costa Rica will honor a U.S. request for extradition.
The U.S. federal action comes shortly after similar allegations of illegal gambling were leveled against BetonSports, a well known sportsbook with offices in Mall San Pedro.
By comparison, bettheduck.com was believed to be much smaller. But the firm did use agents and runners in the United States instead of relying on bettors to place their wagers via the Internet and telephone. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
source
http://www.amcostarica.com Friday Aug 25
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Three sportsbook operators in Costa Rica are facing U.S. federal iindictments in another complex crackdown on offshore betting here.
They join nine individuals in the United States who have been indicted on illegal gambling and money laundering charges.
The San José individuals are Richard Anderson, 62, also of Los Angeles, California, and Darwin Mobley and Jorge Esteban Hall Zumbado, both of San José. Anderson, Mobley, and Zumbado allegedly operated the gambling business in Costa Rica and received compensation for doing so with funds sent by wire transfer from the United States to a bank account in Costa Rica, said a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Houshang Pourmohamad, 61, of Richmond, California, is a fourth person indicted at the same time. He worked as an agent in the United States, collecting money from players in the United States and delivering the currency either to a bookmaker or to runners. As an agent, Pourmohamad received a commission based on a percentage of his players’ losses, said the government.
The gambling operation on the Internet was know as www.bettheduck.com.
The four individuals were named in a 12-count indictment, which was unsealed last week. The defendants face charges of conspiracy and of conducting an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to launder funds from the business, and conspiracy to use facilities in interstate and foreign commerce, including e-mail, telephone communication, and an Internet Web site, to promote the unlawful activity, said U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan of the Northern District of California.
Pourmohamad was arrested on July 26 in Richmond, California, on an earlier criminal indictment. He made
</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=350>his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland,
California, and is scheduled to appear again Sept. 12. Seven other persons were arrested with Pourmohamad in California July 26.
They are Jenaro R. Mejias of Carson City, Nevada; Tony Ferretti of Pacifica, California; Dallas Affolter, also of Pacifica; Ed Attanasio, of San Francisco, California; David Volkman, of Belmont, California; Norm Foisy of Lafayette, California, and Ray Vargas, of Fremont, California, according to the U.,S. Department of Justice. The men also were described as agents who collected money for transfer to Costa Rica.
The complaint charges the defendants with conspiracy to conduct, finance, manage, and supervise an illegal gambling business and conducting, financing, managing, and supervising an illegal gambling business. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The complaint also charges the defendants with conspiracy to launder money. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, five years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The earlier case also involves www.bettheduck.com. The Web site is not active now.
Local sources said they believe Mobley is 37 and has residency in Costa Rica. He lives in la Pacifica subdivision. Hall Zumbado, 29, is a Costa Rican who lives in Heredia, said the same sources. It is not known if Costa Rica will honor a U.S. request for extradition.
The U.S. federal action comes shortly after similar allegations of illegal gambling were leveled against BetonSports, a well known sportsbook with offices in Mall San Pedro.
By comparison, bettheduck.com was believed to be much smaller. But the firm did use agents and runners in the United States instead of relying on bettors to place their wagers via the Internet and telephone. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
source
http://www.amcostarica.com Friday Aug 25
