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These groups:
Provided muscle for debt collection (e.g., robberies, intimidation).
Took profit cuts and used schemes to launder money.
Recruited via underground networks, with 13 indicted mob figures (e.g., Bonanno associate John Aiello).
FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia noted the Mafia's pivot to gambling post-traditional rackets' decline, calling it a "modern evolution of organized crime."
Charges and Legal Ramifications
All face federal charges under two indictments (6 in the betting case, 31 in the poker case, with overlaps like Jones). Primary counts:
Wire Fraud Conspiracy: Misuse of electronic communications for fraud (max 20 years).
Money Laundering Conspiracy: Hiding illicit proceeds (max 20 years).
Extortion, Robbery, Bank Fraud, Illegal Gambling: Additional felonies in the poker case.
NBA and Broader Implications
The scandal arrives as the NBA tips off its 2025-26 season, amplifying integrity concerns. Commissioner Adam Silver's office reiterated zero tolerance for gambling, building on Porter's ban. Experts like Harvard's Mike McCann warn of "unexpected mafia ties" eroding trust in a betting-saturated ecosystem. 
Victims, often affluent outsiders, may pursue civil suits. For the league, this could spur tighter insider protocols and highlight risks from player-coach friendships in a $10B+ industry.
This reporting is based on unsealed indictments and official statements as of October 24, 2025. Developments are ongoing.
https://x.com/TonySeruga/status/1981697846828323076

Toria Brooke @realtoriabrooke - ICYMI — @POTUS  acknowledged Down Syndrome Awareness Month:
https://x.com/realtoriabrooke/status/1981601890011086873

Townhall.com @townhallcom - EXCLUSIVE — Abigail Spanberger staffer CAUGHT on hidden camera!
"Yes, she's taken, like, AIPAC money!"
"Should I not have told you that? Are you wearing a wire?"
"I'm not optimistic...I just have to believe she's gonna win..."
https://x.com/townhallcom/status/1981367121666773245

Trad West @trad_west_ - Sylvester Stallone: “The church is the gym of the soul… The more I turn myself over to believing in Jesus, the pressure is off me now.”
"Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior"
https://x.com/trad_west_/status/1981392352728981692

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent @SecScottBessent - Video: America’s Golden Age is underway, and the best is yet to come.
Inflation is down. Energy prices are down. And real wages are up.
In 2026, working Americans will see bigger refunds and higher take-home pay thanks to President Trump and the One Big Beautiful Bill.
https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/1981338699590717760
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