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MANHATTAN COURT SENDS ONLINE SPORTSBETTING MAN TO JAIL

Source: http://www.bluffed.net


Accused's lawyer denies claim of mob connections

A Manhattan federal court sentenced a man who is alleged to have connections with the notorious Gambino crime family to 30 months in jail this week after he pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to online sports betting.

The New York Post reported that Michael Scarpaci (34) played a role in an Internet sports betting ring and arranged high-stakes poker games. He already faces a five year imprisonment sentence for heading a $20 million 'boiler room' stock selling scheme under the title Gryphon Financial, where it is alleged that he used some of the profits to fund internet gambling operations.

The recovering alcoholic and drug addict admitted he steered fellow bettors to his unidentified Web-based, off-shore sports betting site and also recruited players to join him at card games in Manhattan hotels.

The charges against Scarpaci formed part of a major indictment against 14 other accused persons - allegedly with mob connections - earlier this year (see previous reports)

A debate on the suitability of the accused's legal representative provided the court with an interesting diversion. Prosecution lawyers claimed that defence lawyer Joseph Corrozzo was a 'house counsel' to the Gambinos, in which his father, Joseph, is the reputed consigliore, and his uncle Nicholas is a reputed capo. Corrozzo defeated the attempt to exclude him from the case.

DoJ FIGHTS NEW JERSEY ATTEMPT TO LEGALISE SPORTS BETTING

iMEGA case hots up

A court action in which the pro-online gambling action group Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association is involved entered a new phase this week when the USA Department of Justice opposed an attempt to legalise sports betting in the state of New Jersey (see previous reports).

The Department notified Judge Garrett E, Brown of its opposition to the iMEGA move in a letter which now becomes part of its defence against the iMEGA action to overturn the Federal ban on sports betting.

New Jersey is among the more progressive of US states in its approach to a more open and legalised sports betting regime, and in November this year passed legislation authorising a poll of the state's eight million or more residents to test support for legalised online sports betting.

The legislation - driven by state Senator Ray Lesniak - passed by a convincing margin despite the opposition of state governor Chris Christie.

In the letter, DoJ lawyer Peter D. Leary claims that iMEGA's request to supplement the record with a copy of SCR 132 - the sports betting ballot referendum bill - is not warranted. Leary goes on to point out that the successful New Jersey sports betting ballot legislation is irrelevant because it simply "...might give the State Legislature the power to possibly pass state laws related to sports betting".

The Department additionally asserts that a favorable judgement would not remedy the plaintiff's injuries, identified as New Jersey's present inability to offer state-regulated and taxed sports betting.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is at the heart of the action as the federal legislation which precludes New Jersey - despite the sensitive issue of states' rights - from introducing its own sports betting regulatory and tax regime.

iMEGA claims that the law unconstitutionally restrains the state of New Jersey from entering this sector, when other states such as Delaware and Nevada are allowed to do so.

The Department is also relying on it's now predictable but highly contentious claim that iMEGA has no legal standing to bring the action against the government.

Related News Tags: Usa Legislation, IMEGA, New Jersey