>>/167587/,  >>/167588/,  >>/167589/,  >>/167590/

As charged in the indictment, members of the conspiracy committed violent acts, including assault, extortions, and robbery, in furtherance of the schemes to ensure the repayment of debts and continued success of the operation.  Between November 2022 and February 2023, Gelardo, Zhen Hu and Ziliani extorted John Doe #5 to secure the repayment of a gambling debt.  Among other things, Zhen Hu and Gelardo both punched the victim to get him to pay back the debt.  In September 2023 and October 2023, Becher, Zhen Hu and Trustman extorted another victim by threatening him to pay back a debt from illegal poker games.  On September 7, 2023, Awawdeh, Hoti, Mazzola, Minucci, and Stroud arranged and committed a gunpoint robbery of a co-conspirator to steal a rigged shuffler machine that the defendants wanted to use.  

Bettors who were defrauded in the rigged games may be victims under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act.  If you believe you were a victim of the scheme, please contact 1-800-CALLFBI.

The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being handled by Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael W. Gibaldi, Irisa Chen, and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists John Schneider and Marlane Bosler.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael Castiglione of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
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