The Queens County, New York prosecutor who led the investigation that brought down former Cantor Gaming sportsbook director Mike Colbert has struck again, indicting 17 people connected with an online sports betting operation.
On Wednesday, Queens District Attorney (QDA) Richard Brown announced that a grand jury had indicted 17 individuals connected with an international online credit betting ring. Law enforcement agents in New York, Nevada and California have arrested all but three of the indicted individuals.
The defendants have been saddled with 126 different counts, including enterprise corruption – a violation of New York’s Organized Crime Control Act – along with money laundering, promoting gambling and conspiracy. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
According to Brown, the QDA’s office began its investigation of the ring in February 2014. Brown identified Cyrus Irani, a resident of Santa Clarita, CA, as the ringleader of the operation, while Downey, CA resident Clark Bruner acted as second-in-command. Bruner’s two sons, Chris and Clark, and 10 other individuals acted as agents or sub-agents, while two money collectors and a clerk rounded out the indicted figures.