The Florida Men Were Bookies for a Panama-Based Illegal Gaming Operation
An Oklahoma City jury has convicted three Florida men on charges stemming from an illegal international gambling ring. The three men and a Florida-based corporation were convicted of money laundering, as well.
In an unrelated Pennsylvania case, seven people pleaded guilty to running an illegal sports gambling syndicate. One of the men involved have been sentenced, but his sentence is thought to be much less involved than the other 6 people in the case.
Robles, Tucker, and Tanner Charged
The men convicted were 50-year old Luis Robles, 50-year old Paul Francis Tucker, and 58-year old Christopher Lee Tanner. Tucker and Robles were found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conducting an illegal gambling business. Mr. Tanner was convicted of conducting an illegal gambling ring. Meanwhile, Zapt Electrical Sales, Inc. was found guilty of the same three charges as Robles and Tucker: conspiracy to commit money laundering, conducting an illegal gambling ring, and racketeering.
The men conspired over a ten year period–from 2003 to 2013–to run an Internet and phone betting service from Panama City. The enterprise is known as Legendz Sports.
Two Florida Bookies
Tucker and Tanner acted as Florida-based illegal bookmakers or “bookies” for the operation. They “solicited and accepted sports wagers and settled gambling debts.”
Meanwhile, Tucker, who owned Zapt Electrical Sales, used his legitimate business “to launder gambling proceeds collected from losing bettors” through the Zapt bank account.
$1 Billion in Betting Action
During its ten years in operation, the enterprise is estimated to have taken more than $1 billion in illegal wagers. Those wagers mostly came from the USA, but did involve other countries.
Assistant Attorney General Caldwell said from the DoJ, “In the age of the internet, what used to be a crime conducted by bookies on street corners is now an international criminal enterprise. Operating on-line but off-shore, the individuals convicted in this case raked in more than a billion dollars in illegal gambling proceeds. But as these convictions demonstrate, no matter where or how organized criminals operate, the Criminal Division will bring them to justice.”
Sentencing in the Oklahoma City case will begin in 90 days for all three men.
Pennsylvania Betting Ring
Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, a 68-year old man who pleaded guilty to a lesser offense in the case received a lesser sentence. Michael Puglisse of Harrisburg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling.
U.S. Middle District Senior Judge William W. Caldwell gave Mr. Puglisse a $4,000 fine and 1 year of probation in the case. Judge Caldwell termed Puglisse’s role in the case to be “limited”.
Puglisse is one of seven men who have pleaded guilty in the case. The other six people have not been sentenced yet. Steven Sheely Sr., a 59-year old man from Camp Hill, is seen as the ringleader.
7 Defendants in All
Sheely could face 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for running an illegal gambling operation. Steven Sheely’s plea agreement calls for his to hand over $450,000 and a 2012 Cadillac Escalade.
The other defendants are Staci Sheely; Steven Sheely, Jr., 39, of Mechanicsburg; Bret Hager, 42, of Carlisle; Roger Charles Vaneslow, II, 44, of New Cumberland; John McDonald, 37, of New Cumberland; Ralph Domene, 47, of Camp Hill; and Brian Fertenbaugh, 43, of Mechanicsburg.
