NEW YORK - Dozens of people were busted for their roles in at least two international sportsbooks that catered to wealthy customers in the United States, Russia and the Ukraine. Several alleged members of the illegal sports gambling ring remain on the loose, according to the FBI.
One of the organizations laundered tens of millions of dollars into the U.S. and the other was financed by a prestigious art gallery in New York City, said the FBI.
Hillel Nahmad, 34, the owner of the Helly Nahmad Gallery at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, was among those arrested.
"As alleged, these criminal enterprises were vast and many-tentacled, with one of them reaching across the Atlantic to launder tens of millions of dollars from Russia to the U.S. via Cyprus and, in some cases, back again. International money laundering is a serious offense, and we will do everything within our power to inhibit those who seek to sanitize the proceeds of crime through legitimate investment vehicles in this country from doing so," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara
Thirty-four people were busted on Tuesday. At least three alleged members of the rings remain at large.
The FBI is asking for the public's assistance locating Abraham Mosseri, Donald McCalmont, and William Edler.
Mosseri, 40, is wanted for his role in operating an illegal sports bookmaking operation.
McCalmont, 45, is wanted for laundering money through Titan Plumbing, a Bronx company taken over to repay a gambling debt.
Edler, 49, is wanted for his role in operating an illegal sports bookmaking operation.
"The subjects in this case ran high-stakes illegal poker games and online gambling, proceeds from which are alleged to have been funneled to organized crime overseas. The one thing they didn't bet on was the New York City police and federal investigators' attention," said NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 212-384-1000. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
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