The first person out of 34 arrested in the Tokhtakhounov online sports betting ring bust in New York, Hollywood producer Bryan Zuriff, pleaded guilty in a Manhattan US Federal Court for his role in running the Los Angeles side of the high-stakes sports betting business, which was allegedly involved in organized crime.
His charges, according to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, included accepting a financial instrument in connection with unlawful Internet gambling. Bharara also said that the indictee operated an illegal gambling enterprise in Los Angeles and helped run similar operations in New York.
Zuriff will be sentenced in November, and it is speculated that he could get up to five years of prison, in addition to the forfeiture of $500,000 of illegal earnings, which he has already agreed to.
However, it has been specified by federal prosecutors that the gambling ring generated at least $100 million.
Bharara noted that “Bryan Zuriff spanned the coasts with his crimes, by operating his own illegal gambling enterprise in Los Angeles, and helping to operate a vast illegal gambling enterprise in New York. With his plea, he becomes the first defendant, but not the last, to be convicted in this sprawling script of criminal conduct.”
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
