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-updates...-operation.html
