An Unnamed New York Islanders Player’s Paycheck Was Used to Pay Gambling Debts in the Case
NHL Star Thomas Vanek paycheck was evidence in a money laundering case which finished this week. Vanek’s check from the New York Islanders was signed over to an illegal New York bookmaker who pleaded guilty to laundering $230,000 in cash this week.
The guilty bookmaker is Mark Ruff, a Rochester man who rang an illegal sports betting man in western New York. Thomas Vanek has not been named in court documents, though the records show that a New York Islanders paycheck was among the pieces of evidence against Ruff. Vanek had been questioned in the case before, while he was a member of the Islanders at the time the check came into the possession of Mark Ruff.
New York Islanders Paycheck
Local attorney James Wolford told reporters that the game check was signed over to the bookie to pay off outstanding gambling debts. Wolford would not say whether the payments to Mark Ruff were from Vanek. The NHL player acknowledged months ago that he testified before a grnad jury. Also, it is known that Vanek’s name appeared in the convicted bookmaker’s records.
Despite his unwillingness to suggest Vanek was involved, Wolford expressed surprise that Vanek’s agent had said earlier that the hockey player was not involved in any wrongdoing. It is likely that the agent was splitting hairs–that the player personally had done no wrong. He may have been suggesting that Thomas Vanek had committed no crimes, even if he was embroiled in a gambling scandal with a known bookmaker.
Laundered $230,000 in Gaming Debts
As part of his plea bargain, Mark Ruff admitted to running an illegal gambling operation and laundering $230,000 in gambling revenues. The check that was laundered was made out to Joseph Ruff, 32, who is still awaiting trial. Paul Borelli, 66, is also awaiting trial for the same set of crimes. Because Mark Ruff pleaded guilty before the others went to trial, it is possible that Mark Ruff will be required to testify or hand over evidence in the forthcoming trials. It is also possible that Mark Ruff agreed to testify against the mysterious “N.R.”.
According to the trial records, Mark Ruff said he collected the $230 thousand debt from a gambler. He passed this on to a man identified in court records only as “NR”, a Connecticut man who laundered the money, then returned it to the Ruff brothers and Borelli.
Joseph Ruff’s Swank Wedding Reception
Joseph Ruff is thought to have used $40,000 of the money received for a wedding reception at the Irondequoit Country Club. That money has been seized by prosecutors to be used as evidence.
If the plea bargain is upheld, then Mark Ruff will serve 9 years in prison. The plea deal is not yet final. U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci Jr. will review the case during a January sentencing hearing. The prosecution appears pleased with the plea bargain, though the defendant was not as pleased.
Mark Ruff Annoyed by Plea Bargain
Ruff, who is said to have a 9th-grade education, clearly showed annoyance with the bargain he had struck. He told the judge that he would have fought the case, but the federal prosecutors could have brought more serious charges against him. Faced with a much stiffer sentence, he chose to take the lesser charges.
Earlier, Ruff had pleaded guilty to extortion charges in downstate New York. Had he waited to go to trial on the illegal gambling and money laundering charges, he might have qualified as a repeat offender. Under those circumstances, he would have been subject to a much longer prison time. Getting this case handled quickly allows him to avoid the worst case scenario.
Marina Restaurant and Bar in Rochester
The current case involved a sports betting operation run out of the Marina Restaurant and Bar in the Charlotte neighborhood of Rochester. The three men involved in the case accepted payments there, until the establishment was raided in June 2014. Mark Ruff did not agree to testify against his brother or Mr. Borelli as part of his plea bargain.
In his time as a professional hockey player, Thomas Vanek played for a Rochester-based minor league club, as well as the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He currently plays for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL.
