Damien LeForbes, a 43-year-old professional poker player from Long Beach, California, has entered a guilty plea to charges of money laundering and running an unauthorized sports betting operation. His plea was entered in the U.S. District Court for Central California, with sentencing scheduled for January 23 in Los Angeles. LeForbes faces significant penalties, including up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a substantial fine potentially totaling $500,000 or double the gross gain or loss from his criminal activities, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Details of the gambling operation:
Court records reveal that LeForbes developed his illegal betting business at a notable Las Vegas casino, referred to as “Casino A” in legal documents, where he was a regular at Resorts World Las Vegas. According to details shared by informants, LeForbes engaged in this illicit enterprise over a span of three years, during which he managed to amass millions of dollars through unlawful bets. He also reportedly recruited casino hosts to help expand his operations, dubbed “the LeForbes Gambling Business” in court documents. The operation was sophisticated, utilizing various methods for payment processing, including checks, cash, electronic payment processors, and cryptocurrencies.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has taken action against Resorts World and its affiliate entities, filing a disciplinary complaint earlier in August. The complaint accuses the casino of allowing gamblers connected to illegal bookmaking and those with histories of federal felony convictions to gamble at its facilities. This case has yet to be decided by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
The detailed 31-page complaint by the Control Board outlines several serious allegations, suggesting that numerous individuals involved in criminal activities wagered millions of dollars at Resorts World over a period of several months. This activity purportedly tarnished the reputation of Nevada’s gaming industry. Among those mentioned are Mathew Bowyer, who has pleaded guilty to operating an unlawful gambling business among other charges; Edwin Ting, a convicted felon with known ties to organized crime; and Chad Iwamoto, who has been convicted of wagering-related crimes and tax evasion.
Casino’s response to allegations:
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson from Resorts World stated that the casino is fully cooperating with the regulatory authorities to address and resolve the issues presented in the complaint. “Resorts World Las Vegas is aware of the Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint,” said the spokesperson via an emailed statement, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We are committed to conducting our business with the utmost integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and industry guidelines. We have been actively communicating with the GCB to resolve these issues so we can move forward and focus on our guests and nearly 5,000 team members.”
