Boston sports betting bust

[Wiseguy]

A few Italians involved but not aware of any mob connection.


3 Individuals Indicted in Connection with Multimillion Dollar Sports Betting Operation
For immediate Release - November 13, 2015


BOSTON – Thirty-three individuals have been indicted in connection with a multimillion dollar sports betting operation in the Boston and South Shore area, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.The individuals allegedly operated an extensive sports gambling enterprise that utilized an off-shore sports betting website to track bets.

The 122-count indictment by a Suffolk County Grand Jury is the result of an investigation by the AG’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police, with assistance from various federal, state, and local authorities. The investigation began in August 2014 when the Massachusetts State Police Special Service Section’s Organized Crime Unit developed information about a betting operation based out of East Boston and South Boston and operating throughout Massachusetts and referred the matter to the AG’s Gaming Enforcement Division.

“These charges are the culmination of a thorough, months-long joint investigation that uncovered an extensive illegal gambling operation in Massachusetts,” AG Healey said. “These defendants amassed a network of bettors in a multimillion dollar enterprise that utilized an off-shore betting website for their bookkeeping in an attempt to circumvent state gambling laws. We thank the Massachusetts State Police and all of the other federal, state, and local agencies that assisted us in dismantling this organized crime operation.”

“The State Police have a long tradition of investigating and enforcing illegal gaming, and are grateful to the Attorney General for her leadership in prosecuting this case,” said Colonel Richard D. McKeon, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “We will continue to work together with prosecutors to hold accountable those who circumvent the state’s gambling laws.”

The suspected leader of the criminal network, John Woodman, age 43, of Braintree, was indicted this week by a Statewide Grand Jury in connection with organizing this criminal network. Woodman maintained a network of more than 30 agents who took illegal bets from more than 700 bettors in Massachusetts. Those agents then provided bettors with accounts on an off-shore sports betting website called PerHead, which allowed the bettors and agents to register and track bets. Authorities allege that the agents would then directly collect debts or pay winnings to the bettors in person.

Frederick Stevenson is alleged to have been Woodman’s master agent, overseeing the accounts and managing most of the agents. Keefe Sheppeck was a sub-agent, who also had his own agents under him. Daniel Conway acted as the enforcer of the organization and would collect money from gamblers who fell behind on their debts, and would often pursue bettors who weren’t paying. Some bettors owed more than $100,000 in debts during the time of this investigation. Bettors who owed money were pursued aggressively at work and home, resulting in at least two of them moving out of state.

As a part of this investigation, Travis Prescott, the owner and operator of the website, PerHead, based out of Costa Rica, was also indicted, along with the company itself. The AG’s Office has charged the corporation with money laundering and organizing illegal gaming, among other charges.

Below is a list of all individuals who were indicted this week. All of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Nov. 30.

Organizational Chart pdf format of Gambling Operation Org Chart
file size 1MB

The defendants allegedly conspired to make money illegally by running an unlawful gambling operation through which bets on sporting events were accepted. Bettors utilized PerHead and its system to register their bets on professional and college football, basketball, baseball and hockey. The website registered the bets and tracked them, but the money exchanged hands in person.

Investigators seized $450,000 in cash, three guns, and six vehicles during the course of the investigation. Authorities allege that yearly profits of this operation exceeded $3 million and that from May 2014 to May 2015 about $6 million worth of bets were placed.

These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Patrick Hanley, Chief of AG Healey’s Gaming Enforcement Division and Assistant Attorney General Kristyn Dusel, also of the AG’s Gaming Enforcement Division. The case was investigated by the State Police Special Service Section – Organized Crime Unit, State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, civilian investigators assigned to the Gaming Enforcement Division and the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab. The AG’s Office received support from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The AG’s Office received assistance from the State Police Technical Surveillance Unit, State Police Fusion Center, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, Department of Corrections, Boston Police, Quincy Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nevada Gaming Control Board, and the Suffolk, Norfolk and Plymouth District Attorneys’ Offices.

The following people were indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury this week:

John Woodman, Age 43, of Braintree
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Organizing and Promoting Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 16A
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Delivery to/from a Person Engaged in Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 22
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Frederick Stevenson, Age 45, of Quincy
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Organizing and Promoting Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 16A
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Delivery to/from a Person Engaged in Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 22
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Keefe Sheppeck, Age 39, of Boston
Operating a Game or Gaming Device without a License, G.L. c. 23K, § 37(a)
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Organizing and Promoting Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 16A
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Delivery to/from a Person Engaged in Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 22
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Travis Prescott
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Organizing and Promoting Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 16A
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Delivery to/from a Person Engaged in Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 22
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

PerHead
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Organizing and Promoting Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 16A
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Delivery to/from a Person Engaged in Illegal Gaming, G.L. c. 271, § 22
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Daniel Conway, Age 47, of Quincy
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Chris Cook, Age 36, of South Boston
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Jeffrey McArdle, Age 38, of South Boston
Money Laundering, G.L. c. 267A, § 2
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Domenic Baldassari, Jr., Age 46
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Domenic Baldassari, III, Age 20, of Quincy
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Darren Birks, Age 29, of South Weymouth
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Joseph Campanella, Age 54, of Sharon
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7
Unlicensed Possession of a Firearm at Home (2 counts) G.L. c. 269, § 10(h)
Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, G.L. c. 94C, § 32C
Possession of Controlled Substances G.L. c. 94C, § 34

Nicholas Clifford, Age 30, of Dorchester
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Joseph Farina, Age 24, of South Boston
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Charles Feeley, Age 36, of Holbrook
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

James Fitzpatrick, Age 26, of Quincy
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

John Lebbossiere, Age 52, of Dorchester
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Daniel McCabe, Age 35, of Braintree
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

John McSeveney, Age 23, of Hanson
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

William Murphy, Age 45, of North Quincy
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Keith O’Connell, Age 43, of Norwell
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Brian O’Connor, Age 41, of South Boston
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Edward Ordway, Age 42, of Quincy
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Darren Stratton, Age 41, of Haverhill
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Joseph Tomasello, Age 42, of Rhode Island
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

William Wilson, Age 25, of South Boston
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Sean Davidson, Age 25, of Plymouth
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

David Fabbri, Age 50, of South Boston
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

John Favaloro, Age 30, of South Boston

Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Jeremiah Hegarty, Age 26, of Boston
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Michael Rogerson, Age 26, of Attleboro
Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Santos Santiago, Age 35, of Randolph

Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Thu Tran, Age 39, of Revere

Registering Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17
Using the Telephone to Register Bets, G.L. c. 271, § 17A
Conspiracy to Register Bets, G.L. c. 274, § 7

Jerome Baldner, Age 66, of South Boston
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, G.L. c. 274, § 7
Accessory After the Fact to violations of G.L. c. 271, § 16A, 17 and/or G.L. c. 267A, § 2, G.L. c. 274, § 4
Unlicensed Possession of a Firearm at Home, G.L. c. 269, § 10

http://www.mass.gov/ago/news-and-update ... ation.html

[willychichi]

I wonder is Joseph Campanella and Joseph Tomasello are in any way connected two the Colombos of the same name?

[Eddie mush]

I wonder is Joseph Campanella and Joseph Tomasello are in any way connected two the Colombos of the same name?

I seriously doubt it . Campanella is a pretty common name for Italians

[Wiseguy]

Perhead.com was indicted in this case. It should be noted that Joseph Graziano, who owns both Perhead and BetEagle, was among those charged in the gambling bust that involved Genovese captain Joseph LaScala back in 2012.

http://www.abcislands.ag/articles/price ... -crime.php

[JCB1977]

Braintree is very close to South Boston, who are these jokers? If it were 1985, somebody I the North End or Providence would have paid the a little visit. That's a lot of $$ to not be kicking anything to anybody.

[Cheech]

Perhead.com was indicted in this case. It should be noted that Joseph Graziano, who owns both Perhead and BetEagle, was among those charged in the gambling bust that involved Genovese captain Joseph LaScala back in 2012.

http://www.abcislands.ag/articles/price ... -crime.php

thats not true. thats you taking whatever an article says and running with it. and i like you but youre wrong on this. beteagle is still up and running and it was never OWNED by Graziano.
thats all i feel comfortable saying. if you want to believe what you posted go right ahead. but it irks me so much when these reporters get these gambling busts wrong.

[Wiseguy]

Perhead.com was indicted in this case. It should be noted that Joseph Graziano, who owns both Perhead and BetEagle, was among those charged in the gambling bust that involved Genovese captain Joseph LaScala back in 2012.

http://www.abcislands.ag/articles/price ... -crime.php

thats not true. thats you taking whatever an article says and running with it. and i like you but youre wrong on this. beteagle is still up and running and it was never OWNED by Graziano.
thats all i feel comfortable saying. if you want to believe what you posted go right ahead. but it irks me so much when these reporters get these gambling busts wrong.

Hey, don't take my or the article word's for it. The feds said the same thing.

"According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Graziano was the principal owner of Beteagle.com, a website located in Costa Rica and used to facilitate illegal online sports betting. Barone worked with Graziano in carrying out the daily activities of the website and both men conspired with the Genovese Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra in the operation of Beteagle."

https://www.fbi.gov/newark/press-releas ... ime-family

[Cheech]

i know. its wrong.

[Wiseguy]

i know. its wrong.

Sorry, but you're going to have to do better than that.

If you have, or believe you have, information that contradicts what the feds are saying, you can't just say "it's wrong" and expect people to automatically believe you. Once again, we are all on an internet forum here. You need to spell out why you think they're wrong and where you got your information from.

Why people think they can just disagree with demonstrable evidence the rest of us can see online, without divulging anything to support their case, I'll never understand.

[JerryB]

...Why people think they can just disagree with demonstrable evidence the rest of us can see online, without divulging anything to support their case, I'll never understand....

And I'll never understand why there are people who believe they can brainlessly accept as true everything the G or any other LE entity publishes or states as fact.

[Wiseguy]

...Why people think they can just disagree with demonstrable evidence the rest of us can see online, without divulging anything to support their case, I'll never understand....

And I'll never understand why there are people who believe they can brainlessly accept as true everything the G or any other LE entity publishes or states as fact.

Unless the feds or other law enforcement are proven wrong, which happens very rarely, who the hell else am I going to believe? Hidden posters on internet forums who disagree but won't (or can't) expound? The posters who automatically believe these people, who they've never met, are the "brainless" ones. Especially with how many frauds and bullshit artists we've seen come and go. Seriously, this is common sense, Jerry.

The feds, citing court documents and testimony, are saying Graziano was the principal owner of BetEagle. Cheech, a guy who posts on a forum, says they're wrong. And he offers nothing to support what he's saying.

I don't think it should be hard to decide which one to go with. But that's me.

[Cheech]

I'm not trying to convince anyone. And I have no history of ever lying or pretending to know things. But I know this for fact. The site is still up and running. It's not only a PPH site. It's post up as well. The Feds were referring to Graziano owning the package. He was just another agent. Beteagle is owned by a larger online book. Like I said it's still up and running. How would that be possible?
That's the last ill say. I don't care who believes what.

[Wiseguy]

I'm not trying to convince anyone. And I have no history of ever lying or pretending to know things. But I know this for fact. The site is still up and running. It's not only a PPH site. It's post up as well. The Feds were referring to Graziano owning the package. He was just another agent. Beteagle is owned by a larger online book. Like I said it's still up and running. How would that be possible?
That's the last ill say. I don't care who believes what.

They said he was the principal owners of the website itself. Whether he was also owning or overseeing packages that used the site is not the issue here.

You can say you "know something for a fact." You just can't expect anyone to believe you, especially when it directly contradicts the feds, when you have nothing to back it up.

[Rocco]

Todays mobsters are so far removed from their Italian heritage they refer to MOb movies on how to be Cosa Nostra... lmao..

[Cheech]

I'm not trying to convince anyone. And I have no history of ever lying or pretending to know things. But I know this for fact. The site is still up and running. It's not only a PPH site. It's post up as well. The Feds were referring to Graziano owning the package. He was just another agent. Beteagle is owned by a larger online book. Like I said it's still up and running. How would that be possible?
That's the last ill say. I don't care who believes what.

They said he was the principal owners of the website itself. Whether he was also owning or overseeing packages that used the site is not the issue here.

You can say you "know something for a fact." You just can't expect anyone to believe you, especially when it directly contradicts the feds, when you have nothing to back it up.

You're right.