California Raids Shutter Two Online Betting Sites

Law enforcement personnel in California conducted an internet gambling raid this week, resulting in the arrest of 18 people and the shuttering of two internet gambling sites.

The sites shuttered were BetMacho.com and MachoSports.com, which were operating from Peru and Panama. Those arrested in the raid were located in Los Angeles, Oslo, and Lima, making the raid a huge international task.

The feds claim that the betting ring was a "violent gambling ring located principally in California and Peru". The ring was reputed for using threats and actual violence to get their way in operations.

Defendants named in a federal indictment in the case include: Jan Harald Portocarrero, Erik Portocarrero, Amir Mokayef, Joseph Barrios, Young Hee Koh, Randall Lee Irwin, Larry Neil Gold, Charles Edward Sullivan, Michael Christopher Iaco, Emed G. Sidaros, Isaac Pete Gharibeh, Dunzmy June Nguyen, Todd Michael Heflin, Howard Alan Blum, Michael John Massey, Salvatore Giacomo Groppo, Nilesh Kumar Ambubhai Patel and Benjamin John William Weber.

Obviously not all of the men have been arrested at this point, but those in custody face charges of Racketeering Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs, and Operating an Illegal Gambling Business. If convicted, each of the men could face 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.