Another 44Wager defendant pleads guilty

56-year-old Joseph Borea became the latest 44Wager.com defendant to plead guilty Wednesday, appearing before U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford, Connecticut on one count of conspiring to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) stemming from his involvement in organised-crime controlled online sports betting.

The US activities of individuals associated with the Costa Rica-based online sports betting site 44Wager.com were the subject of a major enforcement action earlier this year .

Borea, Dean DePreta, Richard Uva and 17 other individuals were charged with various offences related to their involvement in an illegal Internet sports bookmaking operation and illegal card gambling clubs. DePreta and Uva have pleaded guilty and also await sentencing.

Borea will be sentenced on October 30, Judge Bryant said, noting that he has already agreed to forfeit $75,000, and has been released on bond since his arrest on June 13.

Court documents and statements show that the enforcement action was preceded by months of extensive investigation that included wiretaps, led by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force; the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and the Stamford Police Department.

Defendants who have pleaded guilty thus far have agreed to forfeit a total of more than $1.4 million.