Plano Gambling Ring
While that in and of itself is newsworthy, what makes the story even more interesting is that authorities compared the pyramid-style gambling operation to Mary Kay Cosmetics: Federal authorities and Plano police announced Thursday that they have broken up a major illegal gambling operation run out of North Texas that collected more than $5. Nov 06, 2014 BY SEAN CHAFFIN One morning in 2011, just after sunrise, a swarm of federal agents rolled quietly down a neatly manicured cul-de-sac in Southlake, the city police's SWAT alongside them. Texas law forbids gambling devices, such as eight-liners, from awarding cash prizes. However, there is a part of the law — commonly referred to as the 'fuzzy animal' exception —that allows operators to award prizes that are worth less than $5. PLANO (CBS 11 NEWS) – It was more than a decade in the making, but local and federal officials announce they busted a sports betting ring that handled more than 5-billion dollars.
The Plano Police Department received a check for nearly $5 million Thursday after assisting in the dismantling of a large Internet-based gambling operation with ties to Texas.
U.S. Attorney John Bales and IRS Special Agent in Charge Madie Branch handed the Plano police a check for $4,753,841.40 in an asset sharing ceremony at police headquarters.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, the Plano police began an undercover investigation in 2006 into a bookmaker. According to the DOJ, that bookmaker was connected to a larger organization operating an offshore sports book in Willemstad Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
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Through the investigation, 18 North Texas residents were identified as conspirators who accepted wagers on college and professional sports through 25 websites hosted in Curacao.
'The defendants provided bettors with a personal login code and password to facilitate the placement of wagers through the websites and to disguise their identities. Bettors were then directed to specific websites or to toll free numbers operated by the websites where the bettors placed wagers on sporting events,' the DOJ said in a news release Thursday.
On March 3 and 4, 2011, 32 federal search warrants were executed at residences, offices and safe-deposit boxes of the defendants. Additionally, 47 seizure warrants were executed to seize bank and investment accounts, cars and property.
In 2012, NBC 5's Scott Gordon reported the IRS said the gambling ring collected $1 billion a year and as many as 35,000 phone calls a month.
'The investigation disclosed that this illegal Internet wagering organization generated in excess of $5.4 billion in gross wagers resulting in approximately $200 million in illegal earnings to the defendants from January 2007 to February 2011.
Plano Gambling Ring Locations
All 18 of the defendants have pleaded guilty to various criminal violations ranging from money laundering to tax violations. Additionally, more than $10 million has been forfeited to the U.S. Government.
Plano Gambling Ring Fire
Plano Gambling Ring Jewelry
- Eight Liners Operate On The Edge Of State Law. A New Bill Would Give Communities Regulatory OptionsThis 2019 article from the Texas Standard discusses the fuzzy grey area that allows eight-liners to operate in Texas. The article also discusses a bill that was introduced but ultimately failed to pass during the 2019 legislation that would have given cities and counties the ability to decide whether to allow eight-liners in their jurisdiction.
- Bingo, Raffles, Gaming Rooms and Other Gambling Issues Under Texas Law [PDF]A 2019 publication created by the Texas Association of Counties addressing certain exceptions to the general prohibition against gambling including game rooms, eight-liners, bingo and fantasy sports. It also discusses Texas counties' authority to regulate businesses that offer these services.
- Legal Q&A: Eight-Liners [PDF]This 2016 publication from the Texas Municipal League answers common questions regarding 'eight-liners'.
- 8-liners in Texas: Still IllegalA 2016 publication from the Texas District & County Attorneys Association discussing the controversy of 8-liners and the difficulties that arise for law enforcement when attempting to enforce the law.