Welfare Recipients Allegedly Gambled With EBT Money in Florida
Welfare recipients have allegedly been gambling on someone else’s buck in Florida by using EBT cards at underground gaming facilities.
Welfare recipients in Tallahassee, Florida, have purportedly been utilizing their benefit that is electronic transferEBT) cards to buy, among other things, alcohol and tobacco, and in addition used the funds to gamble.
A multi-agency investigation led by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in Tallahassee has identified 132 suspects involved in a gambling that is illegal fraud scheme. Four local residents in Leon County are arrested on charges of racketeering, cash laundering, welfare card fraud, and illegal gambling.
Leon County Sheriff Mike Wood claims the operation netted the ringleaders hundreds of thousands in ill-gotten gains.
Wondwossen Gizaw-Tessema, 57, Eyerusalem Hiluf, 31, Firehiwot Gebre, 35, and Christabel Ekhosuehi, 29, had been apprehended by Leon County, utilizing the first three accused of being the ringleaders of the enterprise that is multi-venue.
According up to a pr release, the Wondu Marathon Convenience Store, Euro Fashions Boutique, One Stop university Market, Pretty Game Boutique, and Belen Mart businesses were all used as gambling enterprises and EBT exchange centers.
Down with EBT
Legislation enforcement believes Gizaw-Tessema ended up being the employer regarding the operation, as he owns several of the companies included in the band. Leon County described the illegal gambling machines as being similar to slots, in that players simply deposited cash, hit a button, and won or lost.
A complete of 24 devices were apprehended from the Sheriff’s Office raids that took place in after obtaining search warrants july.
Issued by the Florida Department of Children and Families, EBT cards cannot be properly used to get alcoholic beverages, nor can the funds be invested in bars, liquor stores, adult activity venues, or pari-mutuel or gambling facilities.
Gizaw-Tessema created a solution that is nifty the EBT regulations by providing money in trade for typical important family supplies. He allegedly offered Costco and Sam’s Club shopping lists to EBT cardholders, and when the welfare recipients returned aided by the items, he paid them 50 cents on the dollar for the goods.
With cash in hand, many ‘customers’ are suspected of trying to recoup their losses on Gizaw-Tessema’s gaming machines.
Detectives estimate the EBT operation taken in upwards of $1,000 a day. January Financial records show Gizaw-Tessema deposited a total of $1.4 million to four bank accounts dating back to.
EBT Gambling
The story out of Tallahassee is truly maybe not the very first time EBT monies have been used to gamble.
A 2010 audit in California unveiled that $1.8 million in welfare funds were spent at gambling enterprises. Plus in Seattle, a regional news section investigation in 2013 found that $2 million of EBT money was gambled with at Washington casinos.
Congress encouraged states in 2012 issuing welfare money to ‘maintain policies and practices’ that prevent wasteful spending by recipients in ‘any liquor store, any casino, gambling casino, or video gaming establishment.’ However, the federal legislation doesn’t explicitly mandate that states follow the principles.
Many state lawmakers have obliged.
Only two states, Minnesota and Texas, lack any regulations preventing EBT money from getting used for gambling. Minnesota does ban EBT cards from tobacco and alcohol purchases, while Texas does not have any regulations on what a person’s welfare cash is spent.
US Start Match-Fixing Scandal Once Again Plagues Tennis
The usa Open match-fixing scandal in nyc has once put the sport again front and center in the media, with experts calling the activity’s integrity into question.
Irregular gambling habits on Vitalia Diatchenko (in yellow) and Timea Bacsinszky’s first-round US Open match have came back tennis match-fixing to the headlines. (Image: Alex Goodlett/Getty Photos)
On August 30, 15th-ranked Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland beat Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko in straight sets. But after a 6-1, 6-1 match, tennis’ governing human anatomy was asked to probe the contest.
The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), formed in 2008 by the tennis that is leading round the world, is investigating whether improper agreements had been made prior to Bacsinszky and Diatchenko’s match.
Russian online bookmaker Fonbet had been apparently the first to alert tennis over suspicious wagering patterns. Bet365 filed grievances that are similar said it had been forced to suspend betting on the match.
‘ As with all cases, the TIU will assess, make a judgment and take action that is appropriate the alert information received and obtained for the first round singles match between Vitalia Diatchenko and Timea Bacsinszky played at the US Open,’ the TIU said in a statement. ‘ Every alert received is followed and assessed up as an indicator that something inappropriate might have happened. Its crucial to appreciate that the alert by itself is not evidence of match-fixing.’
Integrity Unit Win
Corruption has unfortunately beleaguered the sport of tennis for a long time, nevertheless the 2016 US start match-fixing scandal could have long-term good impact. That’s because the match in question appears to get against all traditional wisdom that is match-fixing.
In the place of an unranked or opponent that is lower-seeded off an upset at insurmountable odds, Bacsinszky, the 16th-ranked player in the globe, did exactly what she had been designed to do. Bacsinszky won is right sets, but regardless, the betting houses detected irregularities.
Bacsinszky won a silver medal in increases at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, while Diatchenko is rated 677th worldwide.
Bacsinszky ended up being a -425 favorite at Bovada, meaning one would need to bet $425 to win $100. However in tennis, as could be the situation with certain other recreations, in-play betting is continuing to grow in popularity offshore.
Numerous side bets are offered on tennis including set scores, total matches in a game, first to win a group, total sets, and more.
Numerous believe tennis match-fixing corruption largely occurs during lower-level matches where not as numerous eyes are watching. However, fewer bets are typically put on non-marquee games, which makes it that more challenging to conceal fraudulent task.
Sports Betting Enjoy
The TIU has had a busy 2016. In the first quarter alone, the agency ended up being notified 48 times over dubious gambling patterns.
The most tennis that is notable to be engulfed in sports gambling is current number one Novak Djokovic. In 2007, the 12-time Grand Slam winner said he was approached by way of a bookie and offered $200,000 to lose a match that is first-round.
At the Open that is australian had been suspended on a blended doubles match, however the TIU later on stated it discovered no evidence of match-fixing.
A 2007 game between Martin Arguello and Nikolay Davydenko brought tennis match-fixing towards the limelight. Arguello, rated 87th on the planet at the time, won the match whenever Davydenko that is fourth-ranked withdrew an injury.
Alleged Mob Kingpin Joey Merlino Banned from All Pennsylvania Casinos
Ba-da-bing! Joey ‘Skinny Joey’ Merlino banned from Pennsylvania’s 12 casino hotspots. (Image: Miami Herald)
Joey Merlino, the man who the FBI believes become the relative mind of the Philadelphia Mob, was prohibited from entering the state’s 12 casinos. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) voted unanimously this to designate ‘Skinny Joey’ persona non grata, after an altercation at the Sugarhouse Casino in March week.
That, and the truth that he was arrested in very early August along with 46 so-called mob associates, soldiers and capos, and accused of being among the ringleaders of an unlawful empire referred to as East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise.
Skinny Joey and his associates have already been charged, variously, with illegal gambling, extortion, gun-running, fraud, good racketeering that is old-fashioned and other crimes. He is currently out on $5 million bail as he awaits trial.
Blackjack Fracas
The PGCB stated it began its investigation following an incident during the Sugarhouse blackjack tables when Merlino and his entourage fell as a disagreement with some other players.
In accordance with documents seen by Fox Information, things got heated and punches that are several thrown before protection broke up the battle. Merlino apparently then shook hands with one of the group that is opposing left.
When he returned towards the same casino the following month, he had been met by PGCB agents who attempted to serve him with an exclusion order, but he brushed them off and walked away.
Agents again attempted to serve him your order as he appeared at Harrahs Casino in Chester, and were again waved away by the reputed gangster.
‘We tried to serve him at their restaurant, his house, at Harrah’s, at SugarHouse,’ said board spokesman Doug Harbach. ‘It’s a permanent ban unless he petitions the board to be eliminated and provides the board with ample explanation why he should be taken off the list.’
Wiseguy Sting
The arrests month that is last as the results of a joint research involving the FBI and nyc’s arranged crime task force and is believed to possess spanned several years and involved infiltration by the undercover FBI agent into the ranks associated with company.
Investigators say they have actually collected a large number of hours of testimonies gathered through wiretaps and the cooperation of a witness. The 32-page indictment unsealed last month details incidents of assaults, threats and arson.
Merlino has beaten murder fees in the past, but has served prison time for racketeering. He had been barred from all Atlantic City casinos.
Quebec Regulator Accuses Ex-Amaya Chief David Baazov of Taking Kickbacks
It is been a rough 12 months for David Baazov. The former boy that is golden primary executive officer of Canada’s Amaya Inc., was charged by Quebec’s monetary regulatory arm, the AMF, of insider trading. Although he has denied all the charges vehemently, he first took a short-term leave, and then finally stepped down, from his administrator duties during the video gaming company.
David Baazov denies the fees he profited from a classy insider trading scheme by receiving 10 percent kickbacks for dripping privileged information. (Image: YouTube.com)
However now, a new bombshell has been lobbied at the ex-leader: that of taking kickbacks in exchange for information, as outlined by the AMF. According to court documents filed by the regulator, Baazov ended up being the head of an insider trading ‘pyramid’ and took kickbacks for leaking privileged information to a ‘sophisticated community.’
The network, the AMF contends, consisted of his brother, some continuing company acquaintances, as well as other friends and family members.
Baazov engineered one the most takeovers that are audacious gambling history, the $4.9 billion acquisition of PokerStars by Amaya. But he formally resigned last month as CEO and chairman of the business he transformed into one of the greatest online gambling players on earth.
Now he faces new allegations, presented this week in court papers, which will be the result of an investigation that is continued the AMF on the spring and summer. The regulator alleges that Baazov had been the main supply of leaked information that had been disseminated through their cousin, Josh Baazov, and their associate, Craig Levett, A amaya that is former consultant.
Ten Percent Kickbacks
It also alleges that these three took kickbacks due to their services, typically amounting to 10 % of most profits gained, and that included ‘luxury items’ presented as gifts, including a Rolex watch well worth $13,000. The AMF alleges that the terms were ‘negotiated before the offenses,’ and that the combined group revealed a ‘high amount of company and sophistication’ in its operations.
The regulator says the team, consisting of 13 people, made around $1.5 million in benefit from trading stocks just before at minimum six takeover deals, heading back to Amaya’s acquisition of Cryptologic in 2010.
Amaya has had a m&a that is ambitious over the past six years, acquiring Chartwell, Ongame, Cadillac Jack, and Diamond Game Enterprises, as well as Cryptologic therefore the Oldford Group, which owned PokerStars. Two acquisitions under scrutiny had been unrelated to Amaya: Scientific Games’ purchase of WMS and Intertain’s purchase Gamesys’ major assets.
Baazov Denial
Based on the AMF, members of the group had been still attempting to benefit from Baazov’s bid to get Amaya and take it personal, a move which was announced in this year, long after the AMF investigation had been launched january.
‘Mr. Baazov has been categorical: he would not receive anything,’ their spokesman Ian Robertson told the Financial Post via e-mail. ‘As Mr. Baazov has previously stated, he is innocent of any wrongdoing and desperate to present his defense,’ Robertson added.
On Wednesday, Baazov’s lawyer previously filed a notice contesting the brand new allegations juego dolphin treasure slots. While retired CEO has resigned permanently from his administrator positions within the company, he remains its majority shareholder.
Jaime Costa 