Costa Rica bookmaker busted

[bmw530i]

...http://www.gambling911.com/Costa-Ric...ed-061908.html

[SBR Lou]

If the guy had all that money, what the hell was he doing living in the US and not just staying in CR?

[englishmike]

If the guy had all that money, what the hell was he doing living in the US and not just staying in CR?

I thought exactly the same thing, especially when you know he was staying in Cancun for 6 months a year, makes it sound like he didnt want to be in CR.

[bmw530i]

he had like 3 rolexes dam, all that cash, what a dummy

[durito]

Lots of US based locals use servers in Costa Rica to take their bets. They still live in the US.

[englishmike]

he had like 3 rolexes dam, all that cash, what a dummy

He named one of the watches Nicky Santuro.

[SBR Lou]

Lots of US based locals use servers in Costa Rica to take their bets. They still live in the US.

If they're making decent money, why not eliminate the risk of going to jail and giving most of it back?

Is the US that great a place to live?

[bmw530i]

I think its when you get pretty big, you think **** what others tell me, I am the man, I can do what I want and when I want, and then...blam..harsh reality sets in.

[bigboydan]

Costa Rica Bookmaker Busted

An investigation into an international illegal online gambling operation resulted in the arrest of three West Montgomery County residents Tuesday.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit arrested Justin Franciscotty, 37, his wife Ana Franciscotty, 30, and his sister-in-law Stephanie Uselton, 25, at a home on Durango Creek Drive in the area of FM 1488 and Honea Egypt Road. They were charged with second-degree felony money laundering, punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The charges resulted from the alleged receipt of large amounts of illegally obtained currency through the U.S. Postal Service.

SIU Sgt. David Womack said officers converged on the residence Tuesday morning with a search warrant.

Franciscotty’s only means of income was an online gambling operation based in Costa Rica, Womack said. While he could not reveal the source of the information that launched the investigation, Womack said federal authorities also were involved and provided crucial information.

“The investigation revealed this residence was receiving large amounts of money through the postal service,” Womack said. “Once inside the residence, we found several packages from other parts of the United States, which at one point had several thousands of dollars inside.”

In one room of the home, Womack said, there were multiple TVs connected to satellite service, which investigators theorized was for watching several sporting events as part of Franciscotty’s alleged bookie operation. Womack said Franciscotty was a bookie for those wishing to illegally bet on all types of sporting events, from various ball games to horse racing.

“The domain name and setup was based in Costa Rica,” he said. “It’s like an offshore gambling operation, but you can’t operate offshore from the U.S.”
The SIU’s information indicates Franciscotty was the owner and operator of a very profitable illegal book-making operation.

“The suspect was stopped leaving this residence in his 2006 Cadillac Escalade and found with over $6,000 in currency in his pocket,” Womack said. “Once inside the residence, we found additional $10,000 in cash.”

Investigators also found a room receipt from the Ritz Carlton Cancun from April to September 2007, he said, with the bill totaling more than $44,000. There also were Rolex watches valued at $25,000 to $35,000 and diamond necklaces appraised at $20,000 with matching earrings.
Receipts were recovered for additional extravagant jewelry that was not found, he said.

“Information about the spending habits of these individuals will be forwarded to federal officials,” Womack said.

Three computers were seized from the residence, which investigators hope will yield additional answers about the alleged book-making operation.

According to the Montgomery Central Appraisal District, the home is the name of Uselton and her husband, who are Ana Franciscotty’s sister and brother-in-law. The home, built last year according to the MCAD, is about average in size and value for the neighborhood. More charges are pending against those arrested as well other residents who were not home Tuesday, Womack said.

[durito]

If they're making decent money, why not eliminate the risk of going to jail and giving most of it back?

Is the US that great a place to live?

I don't think I'm the right person to answer this question.


Nevertheless, the local either has to have people working for him in the US that he trusts or be there himself.

[MonkeyF0cker]

Is this a foreshadowing of the fate of creditwagering.com?

[Tsoprano]

I think its when you get pretty big, you think **** what others tell me, I am the man, I can do what I want and when I want, and then...blam..harsh reality sets in.

Exactly, and it sure did set in.

[Tsoprano]

Any word on what site it was?

[CFitz]

who is it

I thought exactly the same thing, especially when you know he was staying in Cancun for 6 months a year, makes it sound like he didnt want to be in CR.

Can anyone tell me the name of this Casino or Sportsbook?

[Bill Dozer]

If he was getting cash sent to his house he was probably an agent or a local with a credit website.