Anand Shah, former councilman of Prospect Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to participating for years in an illegal gambling organization linked to the Lucchese crime family. He earned more than $900,000 and even forgave poker debts in exchange for contributions to his political campaign.
Scott Brannon, an American businessman linked to Costa Rican soccer, was convicted in Texas after pleading guilty to operating an illegal betting business. He received one year of probation, with six months of house arrest, and must surrender millions in earnings.
A study by the Center for Public Studies estimated that the illegal gambling market generated gross revenues of more than US$460 million last year in Chile. In addition, it calculated that the State failed to collect about US$92.6 million in taxes.
Curtis Meeks, accused of providing technology to cheat in illegal poker games related to NBA figures, was arrested for failing to comply with house arrest.
The operation was carried out after a complaint from the provincial Lottery. Poker tables, chips, dollars, drugs, and 32 cell phones were seized.