Paul Phua and David Chesnoff on Their Way to Court in Las Vegas This Week
Paul and Darren Phua entered “Not Guilty” pleas to charges of running an illegal online sports betting ring. The father and son were two of eight men arrested in mid-July at a rented villa at Caesars Palace casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
Wei Seng “Paul” Phua is a tournament professional poker player, a high roller in cash games, the reputed owner of the IBCbet gaming site, an alleged member of the 14k triad, and the former ambassador to Montenegro for the tiny nation of San Marino (in northern Italy). Wai Kit “Darren” Phua is the 22-year old son of Paul, whose only tie to the crime may have been buying a laptop computer as a birthday gift for his father and then naming the log-in WaiPhua.
Still in Federal Custody
The two men have been kept in ICE lockup since Phil Ivey posted bail for the men. At first, they were set up at the home of a Las Vegas medical doctor and poker aficionado. Then the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decided it would be in the best interest of the government to have ICE agents place them behind bars again. Prior to being incarcerated agian, Phil Ivey and Andrew Robt had spent $2.5 million in bail money. Last week, Phil Ivey and Daniel Cates bailed out Seng Chen “Richard” Yong and his son, Wai King Yong. Richard Yong is a personal friend of Ivey and Cates.
The charges in the courtroom of U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach was illegal gambling. Judge Ferenback set September 29 as the start-date for the trial. David Chesnoff, lawyer for the Phuas, told journalist after court recessed that the Phuas “adamantly” maintained their innocence. Mr. Chesnoff went on to say the two men are looking forward to contesting the charges.
Arrest in Hong Kong
Paul Phua was one of 18 men arrested in a combined Hong Kong and mainland China police raid in the middle of June 2014. The crime syndicate in that case, which was operating out of Hong Kong, included 18 men and involved at least $2.2 billion in gaming revenues. In that case, the Chinese government deported 13 of the men, who were not Chinese citizens, while 5 Chinese men were detained for trial.
If the charges against Paul Phua are true, then it appears he and his new crew came to the United States shortly after his deportation from Hong Kong. The crime syndicate in China made such a huge profit on World Cup 2014 matches, that the payoff was too large to resist. Why they set up in three suites in Caesars Palace is anybody’s guess, because that decision led to their arrest. Caesars Palace staff became convinced they were operating an illegal gambling ring out of a villa at the resort, so they called the Nevada authorities. Soon enough, the FBI was raiding their suites.
Johnny Fugazi Receives over 3 Years in Prison
John Breheney, known in the press as “Johnny Fugazi“, received 38 months for racketeering in the state of New Jersey. Mr. Breheney was sentenced by US District Judge Claire Cecchi. The racketeering conviction came for a credit wagering operation which was busted in 2012. Judge Cecchi also gave Johnny Fugazi a $16,000 fine and a $400,000 confiscated in gambling revenues.
Patsy Pirozzi, known as Uncle Patsy, was given 22 months by Judge Cecchi in the same case. In the case of Mr. Pirozzi, he was ordered to give up $31,500 in fines and also given 3 years of probation once his prison sentence ends. The two men pleaded guilty to the charges against them in 2013, and have been awaiting sentencing since them.
A third man, 37 year old Eric Patten, pleaded guilty to similar charges and awaits sentencing on December 3. Pattern faces up to 20 years in prison. In late July, 5 others associated with the Johnny Fugazi betting ring pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Cecchi will pronounce a sentence on those five men before 2014 is out. All involved are thought to be members of the Genovese crime family, one of the infamous “Five Families” of mafia organizations active in New York City, New Jersey, and elsewhere.
