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<br>Celebrities, expert sports stars and wealthy gamblers sat at a table intending to win big in a game of Texas Hold 'Em.<br> |
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<br>But they didn't know it was nearly difficult. They were "fishes" apparently being targeted by the mafia in an [intricate poker](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) betting plan that consisted of X-ray card tables, secret electronic cameras, analysers in chip trays and sunglasses and contact lenses that might read their hand.<br> |
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<br>In what seem like an Ocean's Eleven film plot, district attorneys say these "unwitting" victims were cheated out of at least $7m (₤ 5.25 m) in poker video games - with someone losing at least $1.8 m.<br> |
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<br>The scheme, which US district attorneys described as "reminiscent of a Hollywood film", was dismantled in a vast federal investigation that caused more than 30 arrests, including members of La Cosa Nostra criminal offense families, Portland Trail Blazers basketball coach Chauncey Billups and previous National Basketball Association (NBA) player Damon Jones.<br> |
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<br>FBI director Kash Patel called it a "mind-boggling" scams plan that cheated victims in New york city, Miami, Las Vegas and other US cities.<br> |
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<br>Arrests in the plan were announced on Thursday together with those in an alleged basketball betting plot, in which professional NBA players are accused of faking injuries to affect wagering odds.<br> |
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<br>The underground poker scheme started as early as 2019, prosecutors state, and was apparently operated by the mafia - specifically by members of infamous crime families, consisting of Bonnano, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese. A cut of the profits, prosecutors say, assisted fund their criminal enterprise.<br> |
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<br>Former expert athletes, described by district attorneys as "court card", were gotten to help in the plan and [attract victims](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) into playing.<br> |
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<br>Lured in by the chance to play with a high-profile celeb - such as Billups or Jones - a rich, "unwitting victim" would be hired for prohibited, underground poker video games where 10s of thousands of dollars were on the line, [district attorneys](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) declare.<br> |
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<br>Unbeknownst to the lured-in gamers - described in the scheme as a "fish" - everyone surrounding them was in on the elaborate scam - from the gamers to the dealerships, even the technology utilized to shuffle the deck and count the chips, according to a lengthy federal indictment.<br> |
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<br>Sophisticated cordless innovation was also utilized to deceive the players throughout the video games, many typically in Texas Hold 'Em.<br> |
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<br>What we understand about gambling arrests |
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The technology was all over - an X-ray table that read any face-down card, analysers inside chip trays, a [rigged shuffling](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) device that read cards and forecasted who would have the very best hand, and pre-marked cards that allowed those using special sunglasses and contact lenses to read what remained in everybody's hands.<br> |
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<br>Secretive electronic [cameras](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) - built into tables and lighting fixtures - likewise assisted convey info to those assisting in the plot, authorities state.<br> |
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<br>Then there was also an advanced method of communicating and rigging the video game, prosecutors declare.<br> |
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<br>Information from the game would be sent to an off-site conspirator - called an "operator" by [district attorneys](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) - who then would send out info to another [gamer sitting](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) at the table who was in on the plan - who district attorneys call a "quarterback" or "chauffeur".<br> |
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<br>That individual would then covertly signal to others, district attorneys allege, efficiently taking money and making it difficult for victims to win.<br> |
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<br>Texts from the US [justice department's](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) proof suggest the "quarterback" would either touch the $1,000 poker chip, tap his chin, wrist or arm to signal which conspirator had the finest hand.<br> |
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<br>If the victim had the very best hand, the "quarterback" would touch his black chips.<br> |
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<br>The texts also appear to show that at times conspirators agreed to lose some hands in order to keep victims at the gambling table for longer.<br> |
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<br>Another series of texts recommends participants in the plan avoided [suspicion](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) of unfaithful by switching in players and losing cash to co-conspirators.<br> |
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<br>Authorities approximate that each video game would leave a victim out of tens or numerous countless [dollars](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060).<br> |
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<br>Prosecutors say the accuseds supposedly laundered the funds from the scheme through cryptocurrency, [money exchanges](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060) and [shell companies](https://gitea.metacomplex.ca/tamaray892060).<br> |
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<br>A cut of the revenues went to those who assisted in the plot, district attorneys say, and some apparently went to money the mafia's criminal business.<br> |
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<br>"This alleged plan created chaos throughout the country, making use of the notoriety of some and the wallets of others to fund the Italian crime households," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia.<br> |
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<br>Billups, who was implicated of being a face card in the set card games, was apprehended in Portland and was put on leave by the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers said in a that they were mindful of the allegations involving their head coach and were "completely co-operating with the examination".<br> |
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<br>Billups' attorney, Chris Heywood, told US media on Thursday that the Hall of Famer is a "male of stability" and would combat the claims.<br> |
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<br>Jones was detained in relation to both the poker and NBA injuries scheme. He is charged with two counts each of wire fraud conspiracy and cash laundering conspiracy.<br> |
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