While most of this week’s gambling-related legal activity in the United States centered around the Taiwanchik-Trincher Organization, there were a number of other cases worth mentioning. On Thursday, legendary gambler Anargyros Karabourniotis aka Archie Karas learned he will face trial for allegedly marking cards at the Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside, California. After viewing security footage, casino officials determined Karas’ antics at their blackjack tables last July had cheated them out of $8k.
Karas was arrested in September at his Las Vegas home and extradited to California. This week, Judge John Thompson decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Karas with felony counts of burglary and winning by fraudulent means plus a misdemeanor charge of cheating. If convicted, Karas faces up to three years in prison. This is the fifth time Karas has been charged with cheating a casino but each previous occasion has seen Karas plead the charges down to misdemeanors. Karas will be arraigned on May 14.
PLAYWEEWA WEBSITE DEVELOPER FINED $100K, SPARED JAIL
The man who operated a Costa Rica-based website for a Virginia-based credit betting operation has been fined $100k but spared prison time. Max Krinberg admitted being the technical support behind the ‘Roanoke Sports Book Organization’ that handled $5m in annual wagers during the three years it was operational before being broken up by the feds last April.
Krinberg, who was paid $22k per year plus 10% of losing wagers, agreed to come home to the US and “face the music” after the Department of Homeland Security informed him he was in their sights. Another defendant, George Raymond Frederick, was also sentenced to a year of probation this week. Eight other defendants, who acted as agents and have also admitted guilt, are awaiting sentencing.
PLEA BARGAIN IN MICHIGAN SPORTS BETTING CASE
In Michigan, one of the five individuals caught up in a pre-Super Bowl illegal sports betting sweep has reached a plea bargain with state authorities. On Friday, Thomas Allen Demlow pled guilty to aiding and abetting a gambling operation and filing false tax returns to hide the proceeds. While Demlow was looking at up to 10 years in prison, his plea deal calls for no initial jail time. In exchange, Demlow has agreed to testify against the four other defendants, whose preliminary examinations commence May 16.
The betting ring was operational from 2000 until January 2013, when police raided the home of ringleader Kevin Andrew O’Connor. Interestingly, district court judges have disqualified themselves from presiding over the case due to one of the defendants being local attorney Gregory Worker. Instead, the proceedings are being conducted by Lenawee County Probate Judge Gregg P. Iddings.
